TMJ Oregon

"Dr. Higdon is outstanding! I had some major bite issues and needed a lot of work which took longer than usual. His expertise, skill and patience were incredible. He pays attention to detail and wants the best for his patients. I was so pleased with the final outcome. I would HIGHLY recommended Dr. Higdon. He is committed to results and goes the extra mile. A HUGE THANK YOU! I am grateful and appreciative."

"In June of 1993, I was involved in a life changing car accident. The injuries I sustained involved brain injury, brain stem damage, bilateral inner ear damage, major whiplash and TMJ in my right jaw besides all the soft tissue injuries. I saw Dr. Higdon after being referred to him. I was very fragile at the time and was very grateful to be in the hands of a Dr. who not only recognized my inner ear issues but was sensitive to my special needs in his office and treatment room. His staff was also attuned to my special needs and were very kind and assuring. I was amazed at his knowledge, willingness to listen to what happened and his gentleness of manner. After impressions were taken and I was eventually fitted with my neuromuscular splint, I began to have a decrease in pain. Many subsequent visits later, I only have to wear my splint at night. I have continued to see Dr. Higdon over many years for adjustments and always find him to be interested in how I am doing and willing to do his utmost to improve my splint and decrease any pain/discomfort I may be having. I would recommend Dr. Higdon to anyone who is having TMJ issues. He is extremely knowledgeable in his field and I will be making an appointment to see him as I need another adjustment!"

"I had been suffering from headaches and tooth pain for at least a year, seeking help from numerous health care professionals, but no one could uncover the deep-seated problem. Then a friend suggested Dr. Higdon. I knew I was in good hands within minutes of my first visit. He intently listened, examined, studied, tested, and explained what was occurring with my malfunctioning jaw and bite. As soon as I began using my individualized mouth guard (splint, appliance), I felt relief. But Dr. Higdon did not stop there. I returned weekly, then biweekly, monthly, so he could inspect my mouth guard, double and triple check it with my bite, and then carefully grind it to meet my jaw transformation. (My favorite part was sitting in the exam chair, watching him bent over his sander, meticulously fine-tuning the fit and hearing the whir of the motor and the squelch of the sander meeting my appliance for a micro-moment of perfection.) As time went on and my appointments were less frequent, I came to recognize the mild signals that my mouth guard needed adjusting and I made an appointment. It’s been several years since I’ve visited Dr. Higdon, but I plan to do so soon for just a routine checkup. I highly recommend Dr. Higdon to anyone seeking answers to their own frustrating head pain. You will feel confident that you, too, are in good hands."

"Dr. Higdon is GREAT!!!!!! He literally saved my teeth. Three or four years ago, my regular dentist tested all my teeth and said they were all loose! After giving it some thought, my dentist referred me to Dr. Higdon. I was seeing a periodontist, who had done all he could but my teeth were still very loose,and I don't have enough bone matter to hold in implants. First Dr. Higdon put a splint on my top teeth,told me to wear it all the time, and it stabilized my top teeth. He did the same on my bottom teeth, but it didn't work with them. As my bottom teeth were crooked, he sent me to an orthodontist to straighten t hem so he could bond a wire to the back of them.. As soon as the braces were off, he did that and now they are as solid as a rock and hopefully they will last another 5 to 10 years, or possibly longer. I am now diligent in keeping my gums healthy as this is the best hope for my teeth not getting worse. I comment you, Dr. Higdon!"

"I suffered from back/neck/TMJ/TMD pain for 15 years before I found Dr. Higdon. I had tried everything: physical therapy, chiropractic, a "brux guard", massage, acupuncture, osteopathy, yoga. I begged my primary care physician for help for years. My symptoms always returned. It wasn't until Dr. Higdon stabilized my bite that I found any lasting relief. I feel indebted to Dr. Higdon for giving me some relief when no one else could. He coordinated my care with a physical therapist, an orthodontist, my osteopath and my sleep doctor. He maintains a good working relationship with a large network of practitioners in the area and I trust his recommendations 100%. I have been seeing Dr. Higdon on and off for about five years now. Though I curse fate for giving me this chronic pain condition, I am grateful that it led me to Dr. Higdon. I consider him the dean of the small pool of professionals dedicated to TMJ/TMD issues in the Portland area. I pray he postpones his retirement. We have discovered over time that my own issues spread into sleep medicine and obstructive sleep apnea, which are a little outside Dr. Higdon's core domain, but I have always found Dr. Higdon to be open minded and willing to listen and willing to work with other physicians and other approaches. I find Dr. Higdon's office and staff to be small, modest, and very professional. They have been exceedingly helpful with insurance issues. In my experience he sees only one patient at a time. Compare to the typical modern dentist's office, where the emphasis is on getting as many patients in and out in as short a time as possible. I believe he is past the point of trying to "grow his practice" and truly only interested in seeing patients he can help. Any dentist in Portland will make you a TMJ/TMD splint. But that two day continuing education seminar where that dentist learned about TMJ/TMD issues? Dr. Higdon taught it. TMJ/TMD is all he does. He has dedicated his life to it. Dr. Higdon has a competence and a confidence and a patience I associate with my grandfather's generation: men who know what they are doing and reserve a little good humored patience for those who do not. He possesses a mastery of his craft which comes only from decades of mindful study and practice. As much as I would like to put my condition behind me, I am going to miss visiting his practice."