Neuromuscular Dentistry – TMJ Disorder
If you’ve been to eye doctors and chiropractors, or have had other medical procedures and medication and can’t get relief from the pain, you may be suffering because of an improper bite! Neuromuscular Dentistry could be the miracle you have been searching for…find out now and live pain free.
What Is Neuromuscular Dentistry?
Traditional dentistry is concerned with only hard tissues – teeth and joints. Neuromuscular dentistry goes beyond that to include the soft tissues – muscles and nerves. It addresses the relationships related to the physiologic range of motion and body posture. This is accomplished by the ability to objectively measure muscle function and correlate the bite of the teeth to a proper jaw posture and its movements in function.
How Do You Determine the Proper Jaw/Joint Position?
Neuromuscular dentistry emphasizes the need to establish occlusion (the fit of the bite). The optimal physiologic position and function of the temporomandibular joints and the optimal resting posture and function of the masticatory muscles is at a physiologic rather than a pathologic position. When the teeth, the facial muscles, and the temporomandibular joints do not exist in harmony, symptoms of what has been identified as TMJ/TMD arise. Some of the clinical signs are:
- Headaches
- Jaw joint pain
- Jaw noise or clicking
- Limited mouth opening
- Ear congestion
- Dizziness
- Ringing in the ears
- Difficulty swallowing
- Loose teeth
- Clenching or grinding
- Facial pain
- Sensitive teeth
- Chewing difficulties
- Neck pain
- Postural problems
- Tingling of the fingertips
- Teeth sensitive to hot/cold
- Nervousness or insomnia
HOW DO YOU DO THAT?
Computerized Diagnostics: Your dentist and his team use state of the art technology to find a correct and accurate jaw posture substantiated by objective measurable data of the muscle in function and at rest.
The following diagnostic tests are used in our office to help identify jaw joint and muscle dysfunction in order to comprehensively treat each case with the most up-to-date technology.
Computerized jaw tracking instrumentation – is used to record jaw movements, range of motion, path of closure, protrusive guidance, rest positions, habitual centric occlusion, and determine freeway space.
Electromyography – is used to monitor the muscles in function.
Sonography – records jaw joint sounds and helps detect abnormalities
Myo-monitor – (low frequency TENS) is used to relax the hyperactive facial muscles.
Tomography – are special x-rays of the jaw joints to evaluate the jaw joint condition and position.
Finding your neuromuscular jaw position is paramount before a final restorative, orthodontic phase is started to prevent muscular imbalances that would lead to instability of the teeth, supporting bone and compromised posture. A comprehensive analysis and evaluation is highly recommended to assist the doctor in accurately diagnosing and developing a treatment plan that can best meet your needs for long term optimal dental health and comfort!
