Is it nerves? Is it muscles? Do you get headaches on a consistent basis? Do you blame it on stress? You are not alone. Using a neuromuscular approach to treating patients can help the many headache sufferers. But what exactly is it? Neuromuscular dentistry is nothing new. Actually, it has been around for some 30 years, but is not the traditional approach to patient care in dentistry. It refers to the muscles of the head and neck, the nerves related to them and how they all work together. The symptoms of neuromuscular disharmony are related to the ”TMJ” or temporomandibular joint. Many patients complain that their jaw pops and clicks. They often complain of pain around the joint. If you have these symptoms, then you are not alone. In reality however, 99% of people do not have true “TMJ” problems. Unless trauma or injury is involved, pain from the joint comes from the surrounding muscles and get them relaxed, then the majority of symptoms will resolve. But what are the symptoms? As you read them, think of how many apply to you.

Headaches or migraines
Pain or pressure in and about the eyes
Sinus problems
Tinnitus ( ringing in the ear)
Clogging or stuffiness of the ears
Subjective hearing loss
Pain in or around the jaw
Stiffness or soreness in the neck, shoulders and back
Radiating pain down your arm to your fingers
Snoring
Vertigo (dizziness)
Habits of grinding
Clenching your teeth
Sensitive teeth

These are just a few of the symptoms that may be related to neuromuscular disharmony. Make no mistake headaches are not just from stress. Neck and shoulder problems are not just from sitting at a computer for many hours. Sinus problems are not just from allergies. But how does all this relate to your teeth? If you have ever seen a person with no teeth in their mouth, it almost appears as if their chin can touch their nose. That is because their teeth are not present to create a vertical stop as to how far they can close. Well, just because you have teeth does not mean that you close at the correct position. As you use your teeth they wear and shorten, causing you to be over-closed when your teeth are in contact. Now here is where the muscles come into play. At complete rest, your teeth are separated by a certain amount. Dentists call this freeway space. When it is time for your teeth to be put to use for eating or chewing, the muscles contract. Now imagine that you have worn or shortened teeth. Your freeway space is larger than ideal, and the muscles have to contract more to get the teeth to make contact. The muscles do not like this and compensate by staying perpetually contracted, causing spasms, pain and soreness. After a while they get fatigued, produce lactic acid (which is what causes the spasms and discomforts) . With the use of electromyography (electrical muscle activity), joint sonography (sound), jaw tracking, muscle palpation, and the most simple test of all, asking you about your symptoms, the probable can be diagnosed and treated accurately and conservatively. So next time you reach for the advil for that afternoon headache, think of what it would be like to be headache free and come in for your comprehensive exam today. I look forward to improving the quality or your life.

Okay, in simple terms...tell me what Nueuromuscular Dentistry is about?

To put it simply, neuromuscular dentistry places the jaw into its optimal position, relieving the symptoms associated with TMJ. While traditional dentistry evaluates primarily the teeth, bones, and gums, neuromuscular dentistry works with the hard tissues and the soft tissues, muscles and nerves. Neuromuscular dentists understand that your hard and soft tissues have a complex relationship and work to make that relationship a harmonious one. Neuromuscular dentists understand the necessity for including the power source (muscles) and the controls (nerves) which create the movement, pressures, and function of the mouth.

Causes of TMJ/ TMDWhen the jaw is misaligned, both the hard and soft tissues are affected and many physiological problems can result, such as headaches, jaw pain, neck and shoulder pain, tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, and clicking or popping sounds in the jaw joint. In a number of cases, these symptoms are the result of TMJ (temporomandibular joint syndrome), also referred to as TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder) or MPD (myofascial pain dysfunction).

TMJ / TMD is a chronic degenerative disease that often takes years to develop. TMJ affects millions of people. People who suffer from TMJ have an imbalance in the jaw-to-skull relationship, which is caused by a bad bite (malocclusion).

Treatment

Neuromuscular Dentistry serves to correct the bite and realign the jaw.

First the dentist determines the optimal position of the jaw by measuring the relaxed position of the head and neck muscles, and then repositions the jaw to achieve those exact measurements.

Malocclusion is relatively easy to correct. Treatment options include adjusting the bite, orthotics, orthodontics, or restoring the teeth to their correct positions.

Benefits

Patients of neuromuscular dentistry experience a range of benefits from decreased or eliminated pain and discomfort to better overall health and longer-lasting dental restorations.

How can Dr. Agatep help me?

Dr. Agatep is an LVI Graduate and fully qualified to treat TMJ disorders with advanced Neuromuscular techniques. The DentalDesignSpa has treated numerous patients with life changing results. If you would like to view firsthand the cases we have done, feel free to call our office at (858) 490-4281 and schedule a time to drop by and review our cases.