What
Is Neuromuscular Dentistry?
Neuromuscular dentistry is the practice of treating the muscles of the face
and mouth. Every person has unique jaw and muscle physiology, so neuromuscular
diagnosis and treatment is a custom science that involves careful study of
an individual's oral history and health. Medical history is very important,
especially any history of allergies, breathing problems, or upper airway obstruction.
Dental history is critical and particular attention must be paid to the analysis
of casts of the patient's teeth to evaluate the extent of the problem.
Healthy
muscles work together in harmony and are able to rest more comfortably. When
muscles rest and are comfortable they can reduce many symptoms including grinding,
wearing, and pushing of the teeth.
The
nerves and muscles that control and guide our jaw during movement can become
tense, sore, and spastic. These strained muscles can contribute to a significant
amount of pain and tension and lower the quality of comfort in and around
our mouths.
Unhappy
muscles can contribute or cause a wide assortment of problems including: painful
teeth, gum disease, painful clicking or popping jaw joints (TMD), hearing
and ear problems (dizziness, chronic ear infections, ringing), headaches,
face, neck and back pain, tingling in the fingers, sleep problems, chipped
and warn teeth. Painful muscles inside our heads are sometimes behind the
bones and hard to reach and touch.
What Can a Neuromuscular Dentist Do For You?
The identification of the true neuromuscular rest position is the critical
step in neuromuscular dental treatment. This is the position where muscles
are relaxed and function most efficiently. Since most pain comes from injured
or unhealthy muscle, muscle function normalization greatly reduces pain. When
the rest position is correctly identified, appliance therapy can rapidly reduce
TMD symptoms including headaches, clicking and popping joints, tinnitus, jaw
pain, and a locking jaw. When symptoms become greatly reduced or disappeared,
the appliance becomes a guide for permanent stabilization procedures that
can include orthodontics or prosthetic dentistry.
Cosmetic
dentists who specialize in neuromuscular dentistry use state of the art computer
technology to find a correct and accurate jaw position. They can also record
full movements of the jaw and record jaw joint sounds to help detect abnormalities.
When
searching for a neuromuscular specialist, it is important to look for an experienced
cosmetic dentist who is highly trained in the science of diagnosing and treating
muscular problems. TMJ/TMD can take years to develop, and many people have
not found the relief they have been seeking. Misdiagnosis is common for TMJ/TMD
patients. Few doctors (physicians, dentists, chiropractors, osteopaths, etc.)
have proper training in the diagnosis and treatment of TMJ/TMD, and these
disorders have many overlapping symptoms that mimic other conditions. For
help in finding a cosmetic dentist with ample experience treating neuromuscular
dentistry problems, use the CosmeticDentistryInDenver.com recommendation.
If you are
concerned about sore or irritating jaw or face muscles, you
may need the help of a neuromuscular dentist. Click here for
tips on finding the right cosmetic dentist who specializes in
neuromuscular dentistry.
For
more information on Neuromuscular Dentistry visit the
Las
Vegas Institute for Dentistry