Neuromuscular Dentistry / TMJ
Neuromuscular Dentistry In Novi, Michigan
Serving Ann Arbor and the Metro Detroit area
At any given time, nearly eleven million Americans suffer from temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ). TMJ is also commonly referred to as refer to temporomandibular disorder or TMD.
TMJ / TMD results from having a jaw that does not come to rest in its optimal position (malocclusion). When the jaw is not in the proper position, it has to work harder to perform basic functions such as speaking or chewing. This in turn places undue stress on the jaw joints and surrounding muscles, even when the jaw is at rest. This constant stress on the jaw can result in painful TMJ symptoms, such as neck, and shoulder discomfort, migraines, headaches, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), jaw pain, teeth grinding, sleep apnea, and a host of other dental and general health problems.
To learn more about the symptoms of TMJ, and to find out if you are in need of a neuromuscular dentistry solution, please visit our TMJ symptoms page.
Many people who experience TMJ / TMD symptoms are not aware that they suffer from the disorder. They are also not aware that by not treating the disorder, their symptoms may worsen.
Neuromuscular dentistry can alleviate many of the painful and damaging symptoms caused by TMJ/TMD by relaxing nerves, tissues, and muscles and correctly aligning the jaw so that it is not under any undue stress. If you are experiencing some of these TMJ or TMD symptoms, advanced technologies are able to diagnose whether you suffer from TMJ / TMD. There are a number of methods that can monitor the movement of your jaw joints and how your jaw muscles perform. These include:
- Jaw tracking: a sensor and magnet are used to track jaw movements during a series of jaw exercises
- Sonograph: this apparatus measures sounds from your jaw joint as you open and close your mouth
- Tomograph: specialized x-rays check the health and position of the bones that make up the jaw joint
- Electromyography: measures minor electrical currents tense muscles tend to transmit
- Orthotic: a mouthpiece made with the aid of a computer. If the pain goes away when using the mouthpiece, TMJ / TMD is the likely source of the problem
Successful neuromuscular dentistry treatment brings remedy to your TMJ / TMD symptoms by relaxing the jaw muscles and correcting your jaw's position. After relieving your jaw muscle pain and spasms, your jaw is stabilized with dental orthodontics. Longer-term treatments include the maintenance of your corrected bite through the use of permanent orthodontics, removable overlay partials and/or reconstructive dentistry.
If your bite is only slightly misaligned, your bite could be corrected with Coronoplasty, a simple procedure in which the enamel of your teeth are smoothed and reshaped. This procedure does not require anesthesia.
To schedule your neuromuscular dentistry consultation, contact Dr. Serra today.
