Instead of treating cavities, gingivitis, and tooth decay, dentists specializing in neuromuscular dentistry focus on a person's occlusion (the way the person’s teeth fit together when the mouth is closed) and the negative effects that malocclusion have on jaw and facial muscles. Symptoms involving jaw pain, migraines, dizziness, and tinnitus (ringing in the ears) in the absence of dental caries or gum disease may indicate TMD, or temporomandibular joint disorder, the most common disorder treated by neuromuscular dentists.
In addition to treating mandible (lower jaw) joint disorders, neuromuscular dentistry attempts to repair jaws that are misaligned due to damage or erosion of the articulate disc that rests between the mandible and temporal bone. This disc provides a cushion so the mandible joint moves smoothly. When the articulate disc cannot facilitate rotation of the joint, intense pain, popping noises, and headaches may affect those who suffer from TMD.
Neuromuscular dentists diagnose TMD by using electromyography, sonography, or a computerized scan of the mandible. Jaw tension is assessed with an electromyograph, which indicates whether the jaw is suffering tension from misalignment issues. Sonographies record all the sounds the jaw produces when the patient moves his or her jaw up and down. A normal jaw will not make sounds while a jaw experiencing TMD will click, grind, pop, or crack when it is moved. Mandibular scans track jaw motions so a neuromuscular dentist knows whether it is correctly positioned when closed.
Treatment methods, like TruDenta®, used at Weaver Dentistry to relieve the pain of neuromuscular dental disorders such as TMD include mouthguards, splint stabilizers, and physical therapy (special exercises to strengthen compromised mandibular joints). When non-invasive measures fail to improve TMD, surgery may be needed to repair mandibular joint and/or disc damage.
To learn more about neuromuscular dentistry and TruDenta treatment, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Gregory Weaver, please give us a call at our convenient Raleigh, NC office!