Michigan Center for Facial Pain and Sleep

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Michigan Center for Facial Pain and Sleep Offering excellent, caring, and professional treatment to treat your pain and get you back to living!

What is sleep apnea?Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which your breathing repeatedly pauses or becomes shallow while y...
10/12/2026

What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which your breathing repeatedly pauses or becomes shallow while you sleep. These pauses can happen many times a night. Often you don’t remember them, so your body never gets the deep, restful sleep it needs.

Common signs and symptoms

• Loud or frequent snoring
• Waking up gasping, choking, or with a dry mouth
• Morning headaches
• Feeling exhausted during the day, even after a full night’s sleep
• Trouble focusing or staying alert
• Waking often during the night
• Jaw clenching or grinding while you sleep
• A partner noticing that you stop breathing in your sleep

Why it matters
Untreated sleep apnea can affect your energy, mood, and long-term health, including heart health and blood pressure. The good news is that it can be treated once it’s properly identified.

If this sounds like you, don’t wait. Schedule a visit with Dr. Abby Schmidt and her team at Michigan Center for Facial Pain and Sleep. Dr. Schmidt is one of only 5 board certified orofacial pain specialists in the state of Michigan, and she and her team will listen, evaluate your symptoms, and help you find real answers so you can finally get a good night’s rest.

Call or message us today to schedule your visit.

10/09/2026

Do you have jaw pain? Here is where we recommend you start.

Before you see a specialist, take a few notes about your symptoms. Where do you feel it? What time of day is it worst? What makes it worse? How long does an episode last? When you take your symptoms seriously, your general practitioner will too. If they don’t, there are providers dedicated to these conditions who have standardized training well beyond required dental continuing education.

For jaw pain, a specialist may be your best option.

By the time many patients see a specialist, they feel like they have tried everything. If you have been told you have “TMJ,” you can seek specialty care whenever you are ready. There is no need to pay for trendy or experimental treatments when orofacial pain specialists with advanced training exist to treat these conditions.
If you have reached a crossroads, it is okay to refer yourself. General practitioners have limits in their education and in the treatments they can offer. You deserve to feel heard, and sometimes that means advocating for yourself.

If you are looking for specialty care, seek out a residency-trained orofacial pain specialist. Advertising “TMJ treatment” does not mean a provider has advanced training or specialty credentials.

If this sounds like you, come schedule a visit with Dr. Abby Schmidt and her team at Michigan Center for Facial Pain and Sleep. Dr. Schmidt is one of only 5 board certified orofacial pain specialists in the state of Michigan, and we are here to listen.

Waking up with a headache most mornings? Don't just chalk it up to stress.Morning headaches, a sore jaw, or that tight f...
10/05/2026

Waking up with a headache most mornings? Don't just chalk it up to stress.

Morning headaches, a sore jaw, or that tight feeling around your temples can point to TMJ trouble or clenching and grinding at night. Your jaw ends up working overtime while you sleep, and you feel it all day.

Plenty of people live with this for years without knowing why. If it sounds like you, we'd love to help you figure out what's going on and get you feeling better.

If your mornings just don't feel right, give us a call.

09/16/2026

Meet Dr. Abby Schmidt. Diplomate of the American Board of Orofacial Pain. Fellow of the American Academy of Orofacial Pain. DDS from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. MS in Orofacial Pain. Three‑year residency at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. One of only four board certified orofacial pain specialists in Michigan.

09/10/2026

If laughing has turned into a painful emotion, that is not something you should ignore. Everyone deserves to laugh freely and fully. You should be able to chuckle, snicker, and laugh hysterically without your jaw tightening or sending a sharp reminder that something is not right. TMJ symptoms should never hold you back from one of the best parts of life. When joy starts to hurt, it is time to take action. Dr. Abby Schmidt and her team are here to help you get back to feeling comfortable, confident, and able to enjoy every moment without pain. Your laughter should be effortless again, and we can help you get there.

09/02/2026

What Bruxism Is?

Bruxism is the involuntary clenching or grinding of your teeth, most often during sleep or moments of stress. Most people don’t realize they’re doing it, but the jaw muscles stay active long after they should be resting.

How It Affects You

•Jaw pain and tightness
Grinding overloads the joint and surrounding muscles.

• Morning headaches
Nighttime clenching strains the muscles that connect the jaw and temples.

• Tooth wear and sensitivity
Constant pressure wears down enamel and exposes sensitive areas.

• Facial soreness
Overworked muscles become inflamed and tender.

• Sleep disruption
Grinding can interrupt sleep cycles and reduce rest quality.

• TMJ complications
Long term bruxism increases inflammation and joint strain.

If you’ve been dealing with tightness, soreness, or morning headaches, these may be signs of nighttime grinding. Our team at Michigan Facial Pain and Sleep can help you understand what’s going on and guide you toward real relief.

TMJ disorders are more common than most people realize, and they often affect much more than the jaw. Many patients come...
08/31/2026

TMJ disorders are more common than most people realize, and they often affect much more than the jaw. Many patients come to us with headaches, ear fullness, facial soreness, chewing discomfort, or sleep issues without knowing the jaw is involved.

At Michigan Center for Facial Pain and Sleep, we look beyond symptoms to understand the full picture. TMJ dysfunction can be influenced by muscle tension, posture, airway concerns, bite imbalance, stress, and daily habits. A careful evaluation helps us identify the root cause and create a plan that supports long term comfort and better function.

If you have clicking, popping, locking, or persistent pain, an early assessment can make a meaningful difference. Our team is here to help you find clarity and relief.

Long hours on phones and computers can quietly increase strain on your jaw. When your head shifts forward to look at a s...
08/26/2026

Long hours on phones and computers can quietly increase strain on your jaw. When your head shifts forward to look at a screen, the muscles in your jaw, neck, and upper back have to work harder just to hold that position. Over time, this forward head posture places extra pressure on the TMJ and can make facial pain feel more intense.

Screen time often leads to habits like clenching, tightening the jaw, or holding tension without realizing it. These small patterns add up, especially during long workdays or extended time on a phone. Keeping your head aligned over your shoulders and your screen at eye level reduces unnecessary stress on the jaw and supports healthier muscle function.

At Michigan Center for Facial Pain and Sleep, we encourage patients to check in with their posture throughout the day. A simple reset can ease tension, improve alignment, and support better TMJ comfort.

08/21/2026

Sleep apnea is not just about snoring. It affects your body every night in ways most people never notice. In many cases, a person can experience repeated apneic events, where breathing stops and starts throughout the night. These interruptions can happen dozens of times or more, pulling the body out of deep sleep and putting stress on overall health.

Myofunctional therapy helps strengthen the tongue and oral muscles, improve nasal breathing, and support a healthier airway. These exercises can make a meaningful difference for both adults and children by helping them breathe easier and sleep more comfortably.

If you or your child is struggling with snoring, restless sleep, or daytime fatigue, our team at MCFPS can help guide you toward better airway function and better rest.

08/14/2026

Sleep deprivation affects the brain the same way intoxication does. Staying awake for seventeen hours or more can mimic a blood alcohol level between 0.05 and 0.10 percent. That happens because restorative sleep is when the brain clears toxins, repairs tissues, organizes memory, and resets the autonomic nervous system. When you miss that process, the brain slows down, decision making drops, reaction time changes, and the body struggles to regulate basic functions.

This connects directly to sleep apnea. When your airway collapses through the night, your brain never reaches the stages of sleep where these repairs happen. You wake up tired, foggy, and inflamed because the brain never had the chance to restore balance or reset the systems that keep you functioning during the day.

Consistent restorative sleep is essential for cognitive health and long term wellness.

Address

36602 Heritage Drive
Richmond, MI
48062

Telephone

+15865880435

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