About The
TMJ and Sleep Therapy Centre of Utah

TMJ Utah Practice

Our Story

For over 15 years, the TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of Utah has been providing effective solutions for adults and children suffering from craniofacial pain and sleep-related breathing disorders. Our experienced team specializes exclusively in these conditions, offering precise diagnosis and non-surgical treatments tailored to your needs. Improving your quality of life is our top priority.

TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre International
Our Partners

TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre International

TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre International provides education and training for the global professional community treating these patients, and we provide care for patients in our “Centres of Excellence” around the world. Dr. Steven R. Olmos offers education programs and our growing family of TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centres provide patient care in over 60 centres in 7 countries. 

TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre International Doctors
FAQ

Common Questions About Our Practice

Are you accepting new patients?

Yes! Whether you are struggling with jaw pain related to a TMJ disorder or snoring and health issues caused by sleep apnea, our dentists want to help you improve your quality of life. We’ll determine whether you can benefit from oral appliances, laser treatments, and/or myofunctional therapy and create a personalized treatment plan for you. You’ll feel better and function better!

Do you accept insurance?

We are a Fee-for-Service/Out-of-Network provider because insurance companies impose restrictive limitations on TMJ and sleep apnea treatments. Medical insurance rarely covers TMJ treatment and limits access to oral appliances for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), often requiring severe conditions before approval. By not contracting with insurance, we prioritize high-quality, patient-centered care without insurance dictating treatment. While medical insurance may contribute to OSA treatment, it is subject to deductibles and exclusions. Medicare does not cover TMJ treatment. We advocate for proactive care, as insurance often denies coverage for conservative treatments while requiring them before surgical intervention.

 

View Our Full Policy
Are migraines caused by a TMJ disorder?
While the exact relationship is complex, research suggests a strong link between TMJ disorders and migraines. We have found that many patients with TMJ issues report experiencing frequent migraines. Treating the underlying TMJ problem often leads to a reduction in migraine frequency and intensity. However, it’s important to note that not all migraines are caused by TMJ disorders. That’s why we encourage you to schedule an appointment for a proper diagnosis to determine the root cause of your migraines.
Doctor & Customer Approved

Trusted By Our Many Patients

Doctor Gunnerson
Meet Dr. K. Cheyn Gunnerson

Your TMJ & Sleep Apnea Dentist in Payson, UT

Dr. K. Cheyn Gunnerson graduated from the Oregon Health & Science University School of Dentistry, where he excelled and graduated in the top five percent of his class. Dr. Gunnerson has invested heavily in his post-graduate education, accumulating thousands of hours of training to ensure that he delivers top-tier care to his patients in Payson.

Doctor Gunnerson
Meet Dr. K. Cheyn Gunnerson

Your TMJ & Sleep Apnea Dentist in Payson, UT

Dr. K. Cheyn Gunnerson graduated from the Oregon Health & Science University School of Dentistry, where he excelled and graduated in the top five percent of his class. Dr. Gunnerson has invested heavily in his post-graduate education, accumulating thousands of hours of training to ensure that he delivers top-tier care to his patients in Payson.

We Look Forward
To Meeting You

Start your journey to better sleep and lasting relief. At The TMJ and Sleep Therapy Centre of Utah, we help you live pain-free and wake up refreshed. Reach out today to begin your transformation.

(385) 600-6718
office@tmjsleeputah.com
33 W 300 South Suite 1,
Payson, UT 84651

Contact Us Today!


    Will My Insurance Pay for This?

    Our providers are Fee for Service/Out of Network by necessity. Historically, medical insurance excludes coverage for TMJ/Pain treatment and limits access to specific appliances for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a medical condition treated with a dental device. Because it is a medical condition, only medical insurance will provide coverage. This is subject to your annual medical insurance deductible. If you have met your deductible, they will generally cover more expenses. If you have not, your payment will apply to your deductible for other services you may need this year.

    Great news: your care at our office is not limited because we do not contract with insurance companies. You and the provider determine what is best for you versus the insurance company dictating your care.

    We do not accept insurance because we care about you too much. If we did, our practice would not be in existence to serve the 5,000+ patients we've treated. Medical insurance chooses to not reasonably participate in paying for conservative treatment for TMD, Craniofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Medicine.

    So, why do you not work with insurance?

    The short answer is because we cannot deliver the quality of care you deserve with the constraints that insurance companies force upon the doctor and patient. The limitations they place make it impossible to deliver the services we provide. Contracting does not allow patients to choose what they want to do. This is precisely why the major medical establishments locally do not participate in the care of these issues, as they cannot get reasonably reimbursed for it to be practical.

    Here are some examples of the constraints currently present:

    • Medical insurance does not approve treatment of mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) without a prior heart attack, stroke, depression, and comorbid conditions. We believe it’s best to treat the breathing disorders prior to a patient developing the chronic diseases that they contribute to.
    • They will not approve treatment of OSA with oral appliance if patient has signs or symptoms of TMD.
    • We often recommend a 3D CBCT (Cone Beam CT scan) to help with our diagnostic evaluation of the anatomy and in January 2022 the CPT code 76102 was eliminated thus cannot be billed to medical insurance.

    Every provider across the country often utilizes “orthotics” or appliances for treatment of TMD, bruxism, etc. In July 2015 the CPT code S8262 for TMJ Orthotic Appliances was eliminated, thus it cannot be billed to medical insurance.

    Medicare

    Medicare does not cover TMJ/TMD treatment, thus we cannot contract or be a preferred provider. Insurance companies do not determine the standard of care for TMJ disorders and Sleep Breathing Disorders. Physicians and Dentists determine the standard of care. The American Dental Association has some good guidelines for care, but the ADA is not a credentialing body. There are two credentialing bodies concerning Craniofacial/Orofacial/TMD issues: the American Board of Craniofacial Pain and the American Board of Orofacial Pain.

    Recently the ADA has approved Orofacial Pain as a specialty and the credentialing board is the ABOP. Thus, Federal Courts have allowed Board Certified individuals to recognize their specialties to the public; hopefully, this will translate into better insurance coverage in the future. What’s fascinating is that most insurance plans that cover TMJ surgery require non-surgical procedures first; the same procedures that they don’t pay for.