What is Neuromuscular Dentistry?
Traditional dentistry evaluates primarily the teeth, bones, and gums. Neuromuscular dentistry works with the hard tissues and the soft tissues, muscles and nerves understanding how your hard and soft tissues have a complex relationship and they work to make that relationship a harmonious one. That means. the goal is to place the jaw into its optimal position, to realign your bite and resolve your TMJ / TMD symptoms
When the jaw is misaligned, both the hard and soft tissues are affected and , resulting in many physiological symptoms such as: head, jaw, neck, and shoulder pain; tinnitus (ringing in the ears); and clicking / popping sounds in the jaw joint. In a number of cases, these symptoms are the result of TMJ (temporomandibular joint syndrome), also referred to as TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder) or MPD (myofascial pain dysfunction). TMJ / TMD is a chronic degenerative disease that affects millions of people. It often takes a while to develop. People who suffer from TMJ have an imbalance in the jaw-to-skull relationship, which is caused by a bad bite (malocclusion).
The treatment is to correct the bite and realign the jaw. Malocclusion is relatively easy to correct. To start, the optimal position of the jaw is discovered by measuring the relaxed position of the head and neck muscles. Then the dentist repositions the jaw to those exact measurements. options to achieve this include: adjusting the bite; orthotics; orthodontics; or restoring the teeth to their correct positions.
The benefits of Neuromuscular dentistry treatment range from decreased or eliminated pain and discomfort to better overall health as well as longer-lasting dental restorations.
Could you benefit from Neuromuscular dentistry?
Click here for more information about the symptoms of TMJ/TMD.If you are suffering from TMJ problems, know that you are not alone! Although the vast majority of North Americans do suffer from TMJ, most do not relate their pain and/or symptoms to a bad bite. Therefore, many people with TMJ are not diagnosed as such, and as a result are not treated correctly.
Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies is the leading training facility for neuromuscular dentists. Neuromuscular dentists that come from LVI are specially trained to recognize signs of TMJ, a disorder that is so commonly passed by or misdiagnosed, and to provide the most appropriate care for the individual patient.
Diagnosing and Treating Symptoms
TMJ / TMD Diagnosis
Using state-of-the-art technology your dentist determines if your symptoms are caused by malocclusion. If that is the case, your optimal jaw position will be determined. Computerized jaw tracking instruments will record jaw movement, resting position, and path of closure. Electromyography is used to measure your jaw's muscle function in its stressed positions and its relaxed position. It also measures the jaw-to-skull relationship to see if there is a structural imbalance. Sonography is used to record jaw joint sounds to detect any abnormalities. Finally, the dentist may take x-rays of the jaw to help evaluate the condition and positioning of the joint.
TMJ / TMD Treatment
Once your neuromuscular dentist has diagnosed you with TMJ, he or she can determine the best course of treatment for your specific needs. Typically treatment will follow three steps:
- Relieve muscle spasm and pain.
The most immediate concern is to provide relief of your symptoms. The best way to do this is by using a technology called ULF-TENS ( Ultra Low Frequency Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation). Basically, This is a way to relax muscles by a gentle massage. The rhythmic pulsing increases blood flow and promotes pumping out waste products. It also stimulates the body's production of endorphins, the body's natural anesthetic. - Stabilize the bite.
Often times, an orthotic, a temporary device, is worn over the teeth. The orthotic allows your neuromuscular dentist to make easy adjustments to the plastic without adjusting the teeth until the bite is stabilized. Once symptoms are relieved and the bite has been stabilized, your dentist will move on to the next step and permanently adjust your bite to the correct position. - Long-term management.
There are a variety of ways to correct your bite in a more permanent way. Dr Ogawa can explain the most common of these approaches.
Dr Keith Ogawa DDS, LVI Dentist - Providing services in cosmetic dentistry, tmj treatment, and neuromuscular dentistry to the areas of Eagle Point and Medford, Oregon (OR).
Eagle Point OR tmj treatment
217 W Main Street Eagle Point, OR 97524 | Ph. 541.826.2525
© copyright 2005 - 2008, Dr. Ogawa, all rights reserved
