How Does Neuromuscular Dentistry Treat Jaw Problems? Article

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How Does Neuromuscular Dentistry Treat Jaw Problems?

The temporomandibular joint is delicate and unique because it is the only joint in the human body that can move in three directions, upwards and downwards, forward and backward and side to side.

Author: Sara Goldstein

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Neuromuscular dentistry specializes in alleviating the pain and discomfort of TMD/TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) while addressing the underlying causes. Millions of people suffer from the symptoms of TMD/TMJ every day and are often misdiagnosed and treated inappropriately. Neuromuscular dentistry diagnoses and treats jaw joint misalignment.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder or TMD/TMJ
Temporomandibular joint disorder is a condition of the jaw joint that can cause pain, not only in your jaw, but in many areas of your body. The headache associated with TMD/TMJ, for instance, is often mistaken for a tension, migraine or sinus headache. Temporomandibular joint disorder usually results from a misalignment of the jaw caused by trauma, disease, aging or habitual actions such as grinding or clenching the teeth.

TMD/TMJ can cause chronic pain in facial muscles which can travel to the neck, shoulders, arms and even your hands, and can be exacerbated when talking, chewing or yawning. Your mouth and face may appear swollen at times and grating, popping and clicking sounds can be heard when you open your mouth.

Treatment Options Available for TMD/TMJ
No one treatment option is right for all people diagnosed with TMD/TMJ as there are different causes, types and levels of severity of the condition. Depending on the type, cause and extent of your problem, you may be treated using one or more of the following neuromuscular dentistry techniques:

• Orthotics
• Restorative dentistry
• Repairs of existing dental work
• Orthodontics
• TENS unit

The first step in treating TMD/TMJ is to relax your jaw muscles using TENS unit electrical stimulation. The TENS unit uses electrodes to deliver a gentle current to your jaw which relaxes the muscles and helps to alleviate your pain.

The repair of your teeth using dental bonding or porcelain crowns or tooth replacements with dental implants or fixed dental bridges and possible repositioning of your bite using orthodontics will then be investigated by your neuromuscular dentist to find the correct solution for your particular problem.

Not all dentists are capable of diagnosing and treating TMD/TMJ, as specialized training and diagnostic equipment and techniques are required.

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If you are experiencing the jaw joint pain and discomfort associated with TMD/TMJ, please visit the website of Wendling Cosmetic Dentistry, serving Portland, Lake Oswego and West Linn, Oregon today.

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