25/08/2019
MyTMJ's; Dr Sophie See BDS
Sophie gained her Degree in Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) from Guy’s Hospital, University of London in 1992. After qualifying, she started her career in Dentistry in a high-end Private dental practice in Brunei. She was mentored by Dr Aaron Seow, a locally renowned and respected dentist, specialising in complex restorative dental work and learning the finer crafts of dentistry.
Sophie has always been fascinated by patients with Temporal Mandibular Joint Disorder (TMJD). Sufferers of TMJD have excessive tension in their Masseter, Temporalis, Lateral and Medial Pterygoid muscles, along with Sternocleidomastoid muscles associated with teeth grinding and clenching. These tensions can evolve over time to more chronic and problematic symptoms, including chronic headache, jaw pain, locked jaw, neck and shoulder pain, chipped teeth and broken fillings.
Over the course of her 27 year dental career, Sophie has found conventional treatments for TMJD, such as soft mouth-guards and jaw exercises, provide only temporary and limited relief. Soft mouth-guards require changing every few months as patients tend to grind through them, whilst the primary problem of tension within the muscles surrounding the TMJ is not addressed. At the same time, patients prescribed jaw exercises invariably fail due to poor patient compliance.
In 2016, Sophie became one of the first Dentist in the South West to start treating patients with TMJD, using the revolutionary medical device, Cerezen. She has been impressed with the many successful and often life-changing cases treated with this Device. It is fantastic for daytime clenching.
Nocturnal (night time) clenching often described as bruxism is better treated using Sci+ (Sleep clench inhibitor) which is an FDA approved oral device for migraine control. It is especially good in relieving muscle tension during the night. Sophie also uses Acupuncture and Botox on the Masseter muscles to relieve the tension cause by excessive clenching.
In 2019 Sophie setup MyTMJ at The Medical Eye Clinic to deliver innovative services to sufferers of TMJD, Bruxism and Snoring. Cerezen appointed Sophie as their Elite Clinic Partner in Devon shortly afterwards.
Sophie is very empathetic towards patients who suffer with TMJD as this is something that she suffers from herself. She therefore understands first-hand the anxiety, and all the other associated symptoms of chronic muscular facial pain, that TMJD can cause. Sophie has had Cerezen treatment herself, and her symptoms are now greatly improved.