Dr. Mary A. Walsh-Cole, DMD Cosmetic Dentistry

Neuromuscular Dentistry

If you suffer from any of the following symptoms, a neuromuscular approach to your dental care may help you.

Headaches/Migraines
Ditched root surfaces
Facial Pain
Neck and shoulder pain
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
Sensitive and sore teeth
Jaw Pain
Limited jaw movement and locking jaw
Numbness in the fingers and arms
Worn or cracked teeth
Clicking or popping in the jaw joints
Depression
Clenching and grinding

Chronic pain in the face, jaw, head, neck and back is referred to as TMJ/TMD or Temporomandibular joint disorder. Even children are sensitive to TMJ and may show early signs with ear infections, headaches, snoring, grinding their teeth at night and finger sucking or biting.

What causes TMJ

A bad bite or malocclusion is the most common cause of TMJ. When the teeth do not fit together properly, the muscles are forced into a strained position causing pain in the face, neck, head, arms, shoulders and back. Even though orthodontics may have corrected crowded teeth, the muscles still may be uncomfortable.

How can a Neuromuscular Dentist help?

A Neuromuscular dentist will measure the most relaxed position of the jaw to find the physiologic position where the teeth, muscles and joints are in harmony. After the bite is realigned in this position, pain will usually disappear.

Neuromuscular Instrumentation

Our office uses sophisticated equipment to find your ideal relaxed position of the jaw. We use a Myomonitor to relax the muscles for about 45 minutes. This ultra low-frequency TENS (Trancutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation) unit delivers an electrical impulse to the muscles, relaxing them by increasing the blood flow and flushing out toxins.

Our computerized diagnostic equipment, the K-7, records both muscle activity and jaw position. This instrumentation allows us to measure your ideal jaw position in three dimensions. The electromyograph verifies the new position by recording decreases in muscle activity. Sonography is also done using a set of microphones worn over the joints that record the joint sounds, such as clicking and popping, that occur when opening and closing the mouth.

Once these records are collected, a mouth splint or orthotic is fabricated to place the jaw in this ideal physiologic position. Pain usually starts to subside right away. After approximately three months, the muscles will heal and a decision will be made regarding the next phase of therapy. This might involve additional splint therapy, reconstruction with crowns, or orthodontics to achieve a pain free and aesthetic result.

For additional information on Neuromuscular Dentistry, go to leadingdentists.com, lvidocs.com for cosmetic dentisry and Dr Hedge at Dental Health Center.