What Patients Report After Treatment.

“I spent three years being told my jaw pain was stress-related and that I should just relax. I saw two dentists, an ENT, a physical therapist, and a chiropractor before someone finally referred me to Dr. Chung. On my first visit, Dr. Chung performed a structured clinical exam based on the DC/TMD criteria and identified bilateral disc displacement with reduction — something no one had formally diagnosed before. Within the first month of the targeted treatment plan, my jaw clicking reduced significantly and I could eat solid food without flinching.”

“By the time I found SoCal TMJ and Headache, I had already undergone an unnecessary wisdom tooth extraction and been fitted for three different night guards — none of which helped. The constant aching in my jaw and the headaches that followed every meal had become my normal. Dr. Chung reviewed every prior record, ordered updated imaging, and walked me through exactly what was happening with the joint anatomy. For the first time, the treatment addressed the actual diagnosis rather than just the symptoms.”

“The electric shock pain on the left side of my face was so severe that I stopped brushing my teeth on that side and lost over fifteen pounds because eating became unbearable. I was diagnosed with atypical facial pain and given gabapentin, which barely took the edge off. Dr. Chung recognized the pattern immediately as classical trigeminal neuralgia and coordinated with a neurologist to adjust my medication regimen. Dr. Chung also fabricated a custom occlusal appliance to reduce joint-related triggers that were worsening the neuralgia episodes.”

“My pain was different from what most people describe — it was a constant deep burning rather than sharp electric shocks. Three different neurologists ran MRIs that came back clear and told me there was nothing wrong. Dr. Chung was the first provider to perform quantitative sensory testing, which revealed significant neuropathic changes in the trigeminal distribution. Dr. Chung diagnosed symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia secondary to a subtle nerve compression that had been missed on standard imaging protocols. The targeted treatment approach was completely different from anything I had tried before.”

“For two years, my tongue and palate felt like they were on fire. My primary care doctor tested me for vitamin deficiencies and thrush, my dentist adjusted my bite, and an oral surgeon biopsied my tongue — all normal. I was starting to think it was all in my head. Dr. Chung explained that burning mouth syndrome is a well-documented neuropathic condition and that my prior tests, while appropriate, were not designed to evaluate the nerve pathways responsible for this type of pain. The treatment plan Dr. Chung developed was the first one that actually made anatomical sense for what I was experiencing.”

“I was a massage therapy regular, spending hundreds of dollars a month on my neck and jaw muscles with only temporary relief. Every morning I woke up with my jaw clenched so tight it ached for hours. Dr. Chung identified a pattern of myofascial trigger points in the masseter and lateral pterygoid muscles that were referring pain into my ear and temple — which was why I kept being misdiagnosed with TMJ joint problems. The treatment involved a combination of intraoral muscle techniques, a specific physical therapy referral, and an appliance designed to reduce the muscular hyperactivity at night.”

“My migraines always started behind my eye and spread down into my jaw and teeth. I saw a neurologist who prescribed triptans and a preventative regimen, but the orofacial component of the migraines never responded. My dentist kept doing bite adjustments thinking it was a TMJ issue. Dr. Chung was the first person to connect the dots — Dr. Chung explained that the trigeminal nerve pathways mean that migraine and orofacial pain often overlap, and that treating both the neurovascular and the musculoskeletal components simultaneously is what produces results. Dr. Chung worked directly with my neurologist to create an integrated plan.”

“I had been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea and was using a CPAP machine, but I still woke up every morning with terrible jaw pain, tension headaches, and teeth that felt like they had been ground down overnight. My sleep medicine doctor said the CPAP should resolve everything, and my dentist made a night guard that did not fit well with the CPAP mask. Dr. Chung identified that my sleep apnea was creating secondary bruxism patterns that were overloading the TMJ complex. Dr. Chung fabricated an oral appliance that was specifically designed to work with my CPAP setup and addressed the muscular overload that was causing the daily pain cycle.”