Cosmetic Dentist

Questions about Neuromuscular Dentistry

pic1Anchor Point, serving Homer and Kenai Peninsula, Alaska

What is neuromuscular dentistry?

While traditional dentistry evaluates teeth, bones, and gums, neuromuscular dentistry involves the hard and soft tissues, muscles and nerves, in an effort to correct a misaligned bite, (called malocclusion), and restore the jaw to its optimal position. A trained neuromuscular dentist can realign your jaw to relieve your symptoms.

What is TMD/TMJ?

TMD is a chronic degenerative disease affecting millions of people, causing a vast array of symptoms related to a misaligned bite. Neuromuscular dentistry seeks to resolve both the causes and the painful effects of TMD.

TMJ is the acronym for the temporomandibular joint, found just in front of the ears. When the TMJ is aggravated by a misaligned bite, this results in symptoms such as:

  • Headaches
  • Neck, shoulder, back and arm pain
  • Jaw pain
  • Tinnitus
  • Clicking and popping sounds in the jaw joint

Do I have TMJ?

An LVI-trained dentist like Jeff Bartley, DDS, has a specialized understanding of the relationship among your jaw, muscles and nerves, and uses state-of-the-art technology to determine the cause of your pain and the optimal position for your jaw, including:

  1. X-rays
  2. Computerized jaw tracking to record jaw movement
  3. Electromyography to measure the jaw's muscle function
  4. Sonography to record any jaw clicking noises

What is the treatment for TMJ?

Once Dr. Bartley has determined the correct bite and jaw position, treatment options to correct the bite include:

  • Orthotics
  • Orthodontics
  • Restoring teeth to the correct positions

The goals of neuromuscular dentistry for the symptoms of TMD are:

  • Relief of muscle spasms and pain
  • Bite stabilization
  • Long-term management of TMD

Is TMD rare?

Surprisingly, TMD is quite a common problem, with as many as 20% of the American population suffering from this disorder.  However, many patients do not associate their discomfort with a real medical problem and fail to seek the help of a trained dentist like Dr. Bartley. Unfortunately, even those seeking help are often misdiagnosed.

Are you concerned TMD may be the culprit of your pain and discomfort? Please contact us today to schedule your consultation so you can look forward to a pain free tomorrow. Dr. Bartley serves cosmetic dentistry patients in Anchor Point and the Kenai Peninsula areas of Alaska.

 

(907)226-3700
Contact Us

34115 Sterling Hwy.
Anchor Point, AK 99556