We all know that smiling has tremendous health benefits. Conversely, when there is trouble in the mouth, it can cause health issues all over the body. The cornerstone of our approach is the idea of whole body health.
One of the most striking aspects of the oral/body health relationship manifests itself in the health of the bite. Neuromuscular dentistry uses the relaxed position of the muscles of the head and neck to place the jaw into an optimal physiologic position. Twenty-five years of research and clinical experience have shown this position to be effective in treating patients with head and neck pain.
Who is affected?
Temporomandibular joint disease (also known as TMD or TMJ) affects 75 million people at any one time. It is a chronic degenerative disease that may take years to develop. People who suffer from TMJ have a structural imbalance in their jaw-to-skull relationship, caused by a bad bite. This disease causes the following:
- Alteration of the temporomandibular joint position by placing excessive pressure on the joint and surrounding tissues.
- Twisting the jaw into a strained position. This further affects the muscles in the face, back, neck and shoulders.
What are the symptoms?
Your patients may be candidates for neuromuscular dentistry if they experience any of the following symptoms on a regular basis:
- Headaches or migraines
- Unexplained loose teeth with pain
- Worn, chipped, cracked teeth or dental restorations
- Pain or soreness around the jaw joints
- Neck, shoulder or back pain
- Facial pain
- Clicking or grating sounds in the jaw joints
- Limited movement or locking jaw
- Numbness in fingers and arms
- Congestion or stuffiness of the ears
Dr. kazerooni can Help
Dr. Sherry Kazerooni is well trained and highly capable of treating the neuromuscular symptoms of a patient with a poor bite (malocclusion). Following a comprehensive examination, we may diagnose malocclusion and recommend a treatment plan that will correct the bite and alleviate pain and discomfort.
To correct malocclusion, Dr. Kazerooni may recommend the use of dental restorations to precisely raise or lower areas of the bite, creating a naturally comfortable position for the jaw. We also use the Myotronics K7 system in diagnosis of TMJ/TMD and the Tensing Unit, an electrical muscle stimulator to exercise facial and jaw muscles, to find their most relaxed state. In most cases, we can reposition the jaw without surgery or braces, and complete the treatment in a few short weeks.
Neuromuscular treatments are completely non-invasive. There is no surgery involved and this is an important point to consider when recommending a course of treatment to your patients. Oral surgeons are just that – surgeons. And while their services are valuable, an oral surgeon may not be the wisest first step for your TMJpatient. Once the cut is made and surgical alterations to the jaw begin, there is no turning back. If you begin with neuromuscular occlusal treatments, you and your patients can relax in the knowledge that treatments are gentle, painless and require absolutely no recovery time.