Our staff works as a team and takes great pride in each team members training and contributions. Continuing education classes are regularly attended by each team member in order for us to keep abreast of the latest technology and techniques in dental treatments for TMJ, cosmetic dentistry, periodontal disease and other conditions.
Princess graduated from the Dental Assisting Program at Columbus Tech and has worked for Dr. Tully since 2006. She was born in California and raised in Phenix City, AL. She has a beautiful daughter that she dedicates her life to. She enjoys being with family and friends.
Dawn is a native of New Orleans, LA. Through the military ties she found her way to Columbus in 2003. She was blessed to work with Dr. Binns and later with Dr. Tully throughout her husband's tenure in the U.S. Army. She enjoys greeting and forming lasting relationships with our patients. Her husband, Trevor, is a Retired LTC and she has 3 amazing children. She and her family are die hard Saint's and LSU fans and they can be found on or near a football or soccer field during the season.
Terri was born and raised in Pennsylvania. She moved to Columbus and started working for Dr. Allen Binns in 1993 and continued working for Dr. Tully when he acquired the practice. She enjoys helping our patients maximize their dental benefits so they can get the care they deserve. Terri met her husband, Justin, at Fort Benning in 1995. Their daughter is pursuing her dream in musical theatre and their son is the owner of Dirty Mike's Septic Service. She enjoys traveling, hiking and spending time with her two amazing grandkids.
Kathy started working for Dr. Allen Binns in 1989 and continued working for Dr. Tully when he acquired the practice. She enjoys helping our patients that suffer with TMJ feel better. Kathy is married and they have 2 grown sons and 2 grandkids and 2 dogs. She enjoys gardening and being outdoors.
Rhonda grew up in Columbus, Georgia where she received her Dental Hygiene degree at Columbus Technical College in 2005. She started working for Dr. Tully in 2006 until she moved in 2012. She moved back and has been working for Dr. Tully since 2018. She loves improving the smiles of our patients and helping to keep their smiles healthy for a lifetime. When she is not working she likes to spend time with her friends and 2 children.
Cindy is a native of Phenix City, AL. She has been working for Dr. Newton Sharp as a dental assistant since she graduated high school. She and Dr. Sharp started working with Dr. Tully in 2017. She is married and has 2 sons. She loves spending time with her 2 wonderful grandchildren. She also loves decorating and crafting.
Temporomandibular joint 'TMJ' syndrome, also known as TMD, is a disorder of the temporamandibular joint and the jaw muscles. This hinge is formed by the temporal bone of the skull and the lower jaw, or mandible.
TMJ is often called the 'Great Imposter', because it is overlooked as a cause of problems or mistaken for some other disease. The causes of TMJ are complex. The TMJ tendency may be inherited or the result of childhood injuries. The symptoms can lie dormant for some time and then suddenly appear for no apparent reason. Because of the diversity of symptoms and contributing factors, many people seek help for years before receiving an accurate diagnosis.
The temporomandibular joint is unique in that it is made up of two separate joints that work together to control the movements of the jaw. Changes in a patients bite can cause the movements of the jaw to pop or grind when opening. When the disc does not move correctly with the jaw it can cause pain. Several things may cause this change to occur including; missing teeth, dental work, injury of trauma to jaw, grinding and clenching.
Since our TMJ patients are fitted with Gelb appliances, many, with prior orthodontic treatment, ask if their TMJ appliance can be worn in conjunction with their orthodontic retainers. The answer is yes! The two mouth pieces accomplish two very different functions. Orthodontic retainers are made to retain teeth in a certain position while TMJ appliances are designed to reposition the jaw joint in a certain position. For the convenience of our TMJ patients we are able to design the appliance to fit comfortably over the orthodontic retainer.
We have found that many patients with TMJ disorders do not sleep properly and this can cause added stress to the jaw. There are many stages of sleep, the deepest stage is the one that relaxes the muscles and allows them a chance to rest. We find that most patients do not reach that stage and therefore are not properly rested. They awake with their muscles feeling tight and tender.