Neuromuscular Dentistry
San Diego, Encinitas, and Carlsbad, CA.
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Have you been living with chronic headaches, or do you find yourself grinding your teeth? Do you have sensitive teeth or hear popping sounds when your jaw moves? If so, we offer diagnosis of and treatment for Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD also called TMJ). Briefly, TMD is a misaligned jaw joint that continuously causes discomfort and pain.
Dr. Walsh-Cole has dual advanced training in that she has completed the rigorous post-graduate training of the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI) and is a Full Mouth Graduate of that prestigious school. She has had both theoretical and hands-on training in both cosmetic dentistry and neuromuscular dentistry.
Studies indicate that most Americans have some degree of TMD but most are unaware of having it and do not recognize the symptoms. TMD has many symptoms, and you might have any combination of them. Each TMD case is unique.
You can read more about: Symptoms of Neuromuscular Dental Problems
TMD – TMJ Disorder
What is Neuromuscular Dentistry?
It is a type of dentistry that treats the entire mouth, not just teeth and gums. It looks at the two jaw joints, the jaw joint muscles and nerves and your bite (the way upper and lower teeth meet). Misaligned jaw joints can eventually cause misaligned teeth. It is also true that misaligned teeth can eventually cause misaligned jaw joints. Neuromuscular dentistry looks at your teeth in a larger context than traditional dentistry.
Dr. Walsh-Cole has invested in specialized diagnostic equipment for neuromuscular dentistry. You can read about the K7 Evaluation System and the TENS unit on our Technology page. Dr. Walsh-Cole and all of us on her team are dedicated to relieving your pain. The painful TMD headaches are relieved right in the diagnostic process, where Dr. Walsh-Cole will find your relaxed jaw position. The goal of your neuromuscular dentistry treatment will be to make that relaxed position permanent.
Being both a cosmetic dentist and a neuromuscular dentist, Dr. Walsh-Cole would correct any jaw joint misalignment before performing any cosmetic dentistry procedures. A beautiful smile must first be a healthy smile, or the beauty will not last. Dr. Walsh-Cole could do your cosmetic work as part of a Full Mouth Reconstruction as a way of addressing all your dental problems – both cosmetic and structural – in a well-planned and coherent approach.
For more information, see Questions About Neuromuscular Dentistry.
If you are wondering whether you might have TMD, and would like to schedule a personal meeting with Dr. Walsh-Cole, please contact our Encinitas office today. There is no need for anyone to live with painful TMD symptoms when they can be diagnosed and permanently treated. We look forward to working with you soon.
