Neuromuscular Dentistry | TMJ Treatment Annapolis
May 27th, 2010 by wordpress
If you are currently suffering from Tempromandibular Joint Syndrome, also known as Myofascial Pain Dysfunction, then you need to know about the newest methods of treatment for these painful and debilitating disorders. The muscle spasms and years of improper dental alignment can cause severe pain and damage to the mouth, all of which can be repaired with neuromuscular dentistry.
Neuromuscular dentistry is the practice of realigning the jaw into it’s most optimal position while the muscles of the jaw and face are completely relaxed. By placing the jaw in a better position, much of the head and neck pain experienced by patients can be reduced or eliminated. If you are planning on undergoing restorative dentistry procedures to replace cracked or damaged teeth from jaw clenching and grinding undergoing a neuromuscular dentistry treatment to properly align your jaw can improve the success and life of the repairs.
Signs and symptoms of tempromandibular joint syndrome, or TMJ, include headaches, loose or damaged teeth, jaw pain or sore joints, neck and shoulder pain, and noise when moving the jaw. There are a wide range of causes, both physical and emotional, for TMJ. Often times eliminating the underlying cause of the disorder is not enough to undo the damage or stop the muscle tensing behavior. In many cases, neuromuscular dentistry is the only solution for the problem.
The treatment beings by using a TENS unit to completely relax the jaw muscles. A TENS unit uses low frequency electrical stimulation to ensure the muscles are relaxed. The natural bite can then be recorded, instead of the misaligned bite pattern the muscles are causing. Once the dentist analyzes how far the tensed bite pattern is from the optimal alignment, he can then work on a series of treatments to readjust the bite pattern of the patient. These include orthodontics, prosthodontics, and reconstructive dental surgery.
Neuromuscular dentistry is one of the newest treatment methods for TMJ, and can be very successful. If you’ve been unable to find relief through other treatment programs, this method may reduce or even eliminate the neck and jaw pain you’ve been experiencing. It helps your jaw find it’s natural placement, and trains the muscles to relax instead of staying in a constantly tensed position. Whether you’ve been recently diagnosed or have experienced TMJ for many years, neuromuscular dentistry and help alleviate symptoms and prevent further damage to your jaw joints and teeth.
