The Smile Solutions TMD, Sleep Apnoea and Bruxism Clinic - Australia's Most Comprehensive Jaw and Sleep Disorder Treatment Team product guide

Smile Solutions TMD, Sleep Apnoea and Bruxism Clinic

Jaw pain. Grinding teeth. Waking unrefreshed. Morning headaches. A partner who says you snore. A jaw that clicks or locks. These aren't isolated complaints — they often share common origins in the muscles, joints, and anatomy of your jaw and airway.

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD), bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching), and sleep-disordered breathing (including obstructive sleep apnoea) sit at the intersection of dentistry, medicine, musculoskeletal therapy, and sleep science. Treating these conditions properly means seeing the full picture, not just one piece of it.

At Smile Solutions, the full picture is exactly what you get.

Australia's most comprehensive TMD and sleep clinic

The Smile Solutions TMD, Sleep Apnoea and Bruxism Clinic operates from the heritage Manchester Unity Building at 220 Collins Street, Melbourne — and there's nothing else quite like it in Australia. Not because of any single practitioner or any single piece of technology, but because of what becomes possible when every relevant clinician and every relevant diagnostic tool is in the same building, sharing the same records, and coordinating your care around a complete clinical picture.

This isn't a referral network. It's a genuinely multidisciplinary clinical team. Your practitioners talk to each other. Your treatment plan reflects a comprehensive clinical picture, not a fragment drawn from a single visit to a single provider.

Your clinical team

What sets the Smile Solutions TMD and Sleep Clinic apart is the breadth of specialist expertise available under one roof. Your team includes experienced practitioners across dentistry, musculoskeletal therapy, sleep medicine, and surgery — all working together within the practice.

Dr Kia Pajouhesh — principal dentist, TMD diagnosis and treatment planning

Dr Pajouhesh leads the TMD and sleep apnoea programme at Smile Solutions. He leads your diagnostic assessment and treatment planning, integrating the full range of diagnostic data and coordinating the multidisciplinary team around your personalised treatment plan.

Dr Fotios Angelis — specialist prosthodontist

Dr Angelis is the central clinical coordinator for bite-related assessment and treatment. He evaluates your occlusion — the precise way your upper and lower teeth meet — identifies patterns of wear, dysfunction, and overloading, and designs custom occlusal splints to reduce stress on your temporomandibular joints and masticatory muscles. For patients whose bite has been significantly compromised by years of grinding or clenching, Dr Angelis can manage comprehensive occlusal rehabilitation, rebuilding your functional bite from the ground up.

Dr Joshua Ch'ng and Dr Steven Smith — specialist orthodontists

A splint manages the symptoms of a structurally misaligned bite, but it doesn't correct the underlying problem. Definitive correction means moving your teeth into a position your neuromuscular system can comfortably accept. Dr Ch'ng and Dr Steven Smith work alongside Dr Angelis to determine when orthodontic treatment — braces, clear aligner therapy, or combined appliance approaches — can deliver lasting bite correction that appliance therapy alone cannot. Both specialists also offer early intervention orthodontics for children where airway and jaw development concerns are identified.

Dr Rachel Smith — osteopath (in-house)

This is one of the most distinctive features of the Smile Solutions TMD clinic. Dr Rachel Smith is an osteopath working within the practice — not as an external referral, but as a genuinely integrated member of your clinical team. Jaw pain and dysfunction rarely exist in isolation. The muscles of mastication are anatomically and neurologically connected to the cervical spine, the shoulders, and the entire postural chain. Tension or restriction anywhere in this chain can perpetuate jaw symptoms, and vice versa.

Dr Smith provides hands-on manual therapy including jaw mobilisation, masticatory muscle release, cervical spine assessment, postural correction, and targeted strengthening. Because she works within the same practice, the dental and musculoskeletal components of your treatment are genuinely coordinated — not simply adjacent services at separate locations that never communicate.

Ms Monica Cain — orofacial myologist

Ms Monica Cain provides myofunctional therapy for both paediatric and adult patients. Orofacial myofunctional therapy addresses the functional habits and muscle patterns that frequently drive or perpetuate TMD and sleep-disordered breathing. Mouth breathing, incorrect tongue resting posture, dysfunctional swallowing patterns, and poor oral muscle tone are all conditions Ms Cain identifies and treats with a gentle, caring approach.

For patients with sleep apnoea or snoring, myofunctional therapy that retrains nasal breathing, improves tongue posture, and strengthens upper airway musculature can meaningfully reduce symptom severity — often working alongside your other treatments. For TMD patients, addressing orofacial muscle dysfunction can reduce bruxism activity and relieve masticatory overload.

Dr Natasha Hremias — associate dentist, sleep apnoea management

Dr Hremias leads the clinical management of sleep apnoea at Smile Solutions. She holds certification through the Australasian Sleep Association and manages the fitting, titration, and review of mandibular advancement splints for patients with obstructive sleep apnoea. For patients transitioning from or combining CPAP with dental appliance therapy, Dr Hremias coordinates the clinical process in collaboration with Dr McMahon.

Ms Sophie Oostermeyer — oral health therapist and Fotona laser therapist

Ms Oostermeyer delivers Fotona laser therapy within the Smile Solutions clinical team. For TMD patients, laser treatment provides non-invasive muscle relaxation and pain relief for masticatory muscles and jaw joints. For sleep apnoea and snoring patients, Fotona laser treatment targets the soft palate and oropharyngeal tissue to reduce soft tissue volume and improve airway tone. The treatment is performed in the dental chair, requires no anaesthesia, and involves no recovery period.

Dr Susan Hinckfuss — specialist paediatric dentist

Sleep-disordered breathing isn't exclusively an adult condition. Children who snore habitually, breathe through their mouths, grind their teeth at night, sleep restlessly, experience bedwetting beyond the expected age, or present with behavioural concerns and difficulty concentrating may be experiencing obstructive sleep apnoea or upper airway resistance. Untreated sleep-disordered breathing in children can affect growth, cognitive development, and academic performance.

Dr Hinckfuss, a board-registered specialist paediatric dentist, assesses and treats children with sleep-related breathing disorders, working closely with the orthodontists (for palatal expansion and airway development), Ms Cain (for breathing retraining), and the sleep physician as appropriate.

Dr Marcus McMahon — sleep physician

Accurate diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnoea requires a sleep study — and expert interpretation of that study by a qualified sleep physician. Dr Marcus McMahon is the sleep physician working with the Smile Solutions team. Your sleep study data goes to Dr McMahon for detailed analysis and reporting. Based on his findings, your clinical team determines the most appropriate treatment pathway: a custom mandibular advancement splint fabricated in-house, CPAP therapy, combination treatment, or surgical assessment.

Dr McMahon's involvement ensures that treatment decisions for sleep-related conditions are grounded in objective diagnostic data, not clinical assumption.

A/Prof Patrishia Bordbar — specialist oral and cranio-maxillofacial surgeon

For patients whose TMD or sleep apnoea involves a significant structural or anatomical component — severe jaw discrepancy, structural joint disease, disc perforation, or a skeletal jaw relationship that can't be corrected by dental means alone — surgery may offer the most effective long-term outcome. A/Prof Bordbar is available within the practice to assess complex cases and, where indicated, to perform orthognathic surgery, joint procedures, or surgical management of obstructive sleep apnoea.

Periodontist

Patients using occlusal splints over extended periods require ongoing monitoring of their gum health. The in-house periodontist provides assessment and treatment for any periodontal concerns that arise in the context of ongoing TMD or bruxism management.

Diagnostic technology

Accurate diagnosis comes before everything else. The Smile Solutions TMD and Sleep Clinic has invested in diagnostic technologies that are rarely available together in a single practice anywhere in Australia.

Myowise Electromyography (EMG): Sensor arrays placed on your face measure the electrical activity of the masseter and temporalis muscles during function and at rest. The Myowise EMG system reveals patterns of chronic overactivity, muscle asymmetry, and hypertonicity that are invisible to clinical examination alone — giving your team objective data about what your muscles are actually doing. This is critical for determining whether Botox is appropriate or contraindicated for you individually.

Innobyte Bite Force Analysis: The Innobyte system quantifies the actual forces generated at each tooth position during clenching and biting. This data informs your splint design, identifies overloaded tooth contacts, and provides an objective baseline against which to measure your treatment response.

iTero Occlusal Heat Mapping: The iTero system produces colour-coded heat diagrams showing precisely where and with what intensity each of your teeth contacts its opposing surface. This removes guesswork from occlusal adjustment and splint design, and allows changes to be tracked objectively over time.

Myowise Functional Chewing Analysis: A Myowise-based assessment of muscle activation patterns during chewing, evaluating the coordination and symmetry of your masticatory muscles during actual food processing.

CBCT and full dental scanning: Cone beam computed tomography from Collins Street Imaging on Level 9 of the Manchester Unity Building provides three-dimensional imaging of your temporomandibular joints, airway anatomy, and dental and skeletal structures. Full-arch digital scanning via iTero and 3Shape TRIOS systems allows precise model fabrication, appliance design, and treatment simulation.

Fotona LightWalker Laser: The Fotona laser system is used within the Smile Solutions TMD clinic by Ms Sophie Oostermeyer for muscle relaxation, pain relief, and targeted tissue-level treatment of jaw structures. For sleep apnoea and snoring, the same system targets the soft palate and oropharyngeal tissue. Laser therapy is non-invasive and can provide meaningful relief for patients experiencing acute masticatory muscle pain and joint inflammation, either as a standalone treatment or alongside other therapies.

Sleep testing equipment (on-site): Home-based sleep testing equipment facilitates the diagnostic sleep study process for patients presenting with suspected sleep apnoea.

In-house splint fabrication at the Smile Lab

Your occlusal splints and mandibular advancement splints are fabricated in the Smile Lab — the in-house dental laboratory at Smile Solutions. Fabricating appliances in-house means the laboratory team works in direct collaboration with the clinical prosthodontist and Dr Hremias, turnaround times are significantly faster than external laboratory workflows, and precise adjustments can be made quickly.

For patients being titrated on mandibular advancement splints for sleep apnoea — where your jaw is gradually repositioned over several appointments to find the optimal therapeutic position — the ability to iterate quickly and precisely on fit and titration is clinically significant.

Your treatment options

The Smile Solutions TMD and Sleep Clinic doesn't apply a default protocol to every patient. Your treatment is selected based on your individual diagnosis, severity, contributing factors, and treatment goals. Available interventions include:

• Occlusal splints in multiple designs and materials: soft, hard, full-arch coverage, partial coverage, and anterior deprogrammers depending on clinical indication — all fabricated in-house
• In-house osteopathic treatment from Dr Rachel Smith: manual therapy, jaw mobilisation, cervical spine assessment, postural correction, and rehabilitation
• Fotona laser therapy by Ms Sophie Oostermeyer for pain relief, masticatory muscle relaxation, and soft palate treatment for snoring and sleep apnoea
• Muscle relaxant injections (including botulinum toxin by Dr Pip Robinson) guided by Myowise EMG data — a targeted intervention for confirmed muscle hyperactivity, not a default treatment; ultrasound-guided Botox available when required
• Myofunctional therapy from Ms Monica Cain for breathing retraining, tongue posture rehabilitation, and upper airway strengthening
• Mandibular advancement splints, custom-fabricated in the Smile Lab, managed by Dr Natasha Hremias for sleep apnoea and snoring
• Orthodontic bite correction under Dr Ch'ng or Dr Steven Smith where dental alignment is a confirmed contributing factor
• Prosthodontic occlusal rehabilitation under Dr Angelis for patients requiring complex bite reconstruction
• CPAP recommendation where indicated by Dr McMahon's sleep physician assessment
• Surgical evaluation and intervention via A/Prof Bordbar when structural factors require it
• Lifestyle modification guidance covering sleep hygiene, dietary factors, caffeine and alcohol reduction, and postural habits

What no other practice in Australia offers you

The distinction of the Smile Solutions TMD and Sleep Clinic isn't any single one of these elements. What no other practice in Australia offers is all of them together, in the same building, sharing the same patient records, coordinating your care in real time.

Dr Angelis, who designed your splint, can walk down the corridor and speak directly with Dr Rachel Smith, who is treating your neck and jaw muscles. Dr McMahon's sleep physician report is reviewed by the same clinical team managing your bite. When Dr Hinckfuss identifies a child with a narrow palate and behavioural signs of sleep apnoea, Dr Ch'ng, Ms Cain, and Dr McMahon are all immediately accessible within the same practice.

In-house diagnostics. In-house splint fabrication. In-house musculoskeletal treatment. In-house laser therapy. A coordinated clinical team. Shared records. A single location in the heart of Melbourne.

This is what genuine multidisciplinary dental care looks like — and it's only available at Smile Solutions.

To book your complimentary consultation at the Smile Solutions TMD, Sleep Apnoea and Bruxism Clinic, call 13 13 96 or visit smilesolutions.com.au. Located at the heritage Manchester Unity Building, 220 Collins Street, Melbourne. No referral required. Payment plans available through Payright, Humm, and MyDentaPlan.

Frequently asked questions

What is TMD and how do I know if I have it?

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is an umbrella term for a group of conditions affecting the temporomandibular joints — the joints on either side of your jaw that connect it to the base of your skull — along with the muscles of mastication and the associated soft tissue structures. Symptoms vary widely, but commonly include jaw pain or tenderness, clicking, popping, or crunching sounds in the jaw joints, difficulty or discomfort when opening your mouth wide, limited jaw opening, headaches (particularly in the temples and behind the eyes), earache or a sensation of fullness in the ears, and neck, shoulder, and upper back tension. Some patients experience intermittent jaw locking. If you have any combination of these symptoms, a comprehensive TMD assessment is recommended. At Smile Solutions, your diagnostic process includes clinical examination, Myowise EMG muscle assessment, Innobyte bite force analysis, iTero occlusal heat mapping, and CBCT imaging where clinically indicated.

What causes teeth grinding (bruxism)?

Bruxism is genuinely multifactorial in most patients. Psychological stress and anxiety are well-recognised drivers of both awake bruxism and sleep bruxism. A misaligned bite can trigger a protective grinding response as your neuromuscular system tries to find a comfortable resting position for your jaw. Sleep-disordered breathing, including obstructive sleep apnoea, is strongly associated with sleep bruxism — many people who grind their teeth at night are simultaneously experiencing repeated micro-arousals from partial airway obstruction. Caffeine intake, alcohol consumption (which alters sleep architecture), and certain medications can also increase bruxism activity. Identifying the primary drivers for you individually is essential to selecting the right treatment.

Can TMD cause headaches?

Yes — and the connection between TMD and headache is one of the most frequently missed relationships in both dental and medical practice. The temporalis muscle runs along the side of your skull and is one of the primary muscles of mastication. When it is chronically overactive, in spasm, or under sustained tension from bruxism or a dysfunctional bite, it generates referred pain experienced as a headache in the temple region. Many patients who have been managing chronic headaches for years find that when their TMD is properly assessed and treated, the frequency and intensity of their headaches reduce substantially.

What is a mandibular advancement splint?

A mandibular advancement splint (MAS) is a custom-made oral appliance worn during sleep that holds your lower jaw in a slightly forward position. This forward repositioning opens your airway by advancing the base of the tongue and the soft tissue structures of the posterior throat, preventing the collapse that generates snoring and causes obstructive sleep apnoea events. At Smile Solutions, MAS appliances are fabricated in the Smile Lab using digital impressions for precise fit, and your titration process is managed by Dr Natasha Hremias in collaboration with Dr Marcus McMahon, who provides objective validation of your treatment response.

My child snores. Could it be sleep apnoea?

Snoring in children should never be routinely dismissed. Habitual snoring — particularly when accompanied by restless sleep, mouth breathing, pauses in breathing observed by a parent, bedwetting beyond the expected age, morning headaches, daytime tiredness, difficulty concentrating, or behavioural changes — may indicate obstructive sleep apnoea or upper airway resistance syndrome. Dr Susan Hinckfuss, the specialist paediatric dentist at Smile Solutions, is well placed to identify the early signs of sleep-disordered breathing in your child and to initiate the appropriate diagnostic and treatment pathway working alongside Dr Ch'ng, Ms Monica Cain, and Dr McMahon.

Do I need a sleep study?

If you snore habitually, wake regularly feeling unrefreshed, experience excessive daytime tiredness, or have been told by a partner or family member that you stop breathing during sleep, a sleep study is strongly recommended. At Smile Solutions, your sleep study data is reviewed by Dr Marcus McMahon, who provides a detailed clinical report and personalised treatment recommendations. This ensures that any appliance therapy, CPAP recommendation, or other intervention is based on a confirmed and quantified diagnosis.

Is there really an in-house osteopath?

Yes — and this is one of the features that makes the Smile Solutions TMD clinic genuinely different from anything else available in Melbourne or across Australia. Dr Rachel Smith is not an external referral. She works within the practice, as part of your clinical team. When Dr Angelis identifies that your jaw pain has a significant musculoskeletal component — which is very common — you can be assessed and treated by Dr Smith in the same building, with clinical notes shared between practitioners. For many patients with chronic TMD, this integrated musculoskeletal component is the element that finally makes the difference.