Neuromuscular dentistry is a dental specialty that prevents, diagnoses, and treats conditions of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the joint that connects the upper and lower jaws. This joint is a finely tuned mechanism, responsible for the full range of motion of the jaw. Unfortunately, this joint often becomes misaligned as a result of injury, diseases, or even poor dental work. This misalignment, called Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD), can cause a range of health problems, from tooth damage to migraine headaches.
Neuromuscular dentistry recognizes the interactions between the interconnected nervous and muscular systems with the temporomandibular joint, and treats them as a whole. Damage or other structural changes to your bite affect your TMJ, which in turn affects these underlying systems, resulting in broad-ranging symptoms. By recognizing how to diagnose and interpret both the cause and the symptoms of these temporomandibular disorders (TMD), a neuromuscular dentist can establish a treatment plan that addresses the root cause of the problem, halting or even reversing the condition.
A neuromuscular dentist with proper training and experience will integrate his or her understanding of the TMJ into every aspect of dental practice, from ensuring that cosmetic and restorative work maintains the delicate balance of the jaw; to consulting, diagnosing, and treating existing cases of TMD.
How can I prevent TMD?
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, or TMD, is an unfortunately common condition with a variety of causes. Many people develop TMD as their teeth become worn down as part of the natural aging process. Others develop it as a result of facial injuries or damage to the teeth. Still others may develop TMD as a result of poor dental work, which can affect the alignment of the bite, throwing their TMJ out of balance.
As such, the best preventative measure is to ensure that you have regular dental checkups with a trained and experienced neuromuscular dentist who can evaluate your bite regularly, and ensure that your dental work is properly fitted.
If you think you may have TMD
Many people are surprised at the range of symptoms that may be attributable to TMD, particularly in the case of symptoms that are not localized to the jaw. Because of this, many cases of TMD go undiagnosed and untreated until they've progressed and caused serious problems.
This is one of the reasons we encourage all of our patients to get regular screenings for bite alignment and function of the TMJ. With these regular screenings, we can often diagnose and treat TMD in its early stages, and prevent serious long term damage.
Learn more
To learn more about neuromuscular dentistry, and how a neuromuscular dentist integrates TMJ care and treatment into every aspect of dental practice, please contact our offices today to schedule an appointment with one of our other experienced neuromuscular dentists. We'll be happy to answer any questions you have. We serve cosmetic dentistry patients in the New York City and surrounding areas.
