Neuromuscular Dentistry

TMD and TMJ are terms that refer to disorders of the jaw joint.

Neuromuscular dentistry is the term for treatment of TMJ or TMD and Dr. Dustin Nelson has advanced training in this area of dentistry. It involves a deep understanding of the jaw joint, the shapes and function of the teeth, and the muscles of the head and neck.

Dysfunction of this joint can lead to serious discomfort, including anything from difficulty chewing up to debilitating headaches. Symptoms of dysfunction include:

• clicking or popping of the jaw joint
   
• various types of head and neck pain
   
• migraine headaches
   
• swallowing problems
   
• postural problems
   
• excessive snoring or sleep apnea
   
• ringing in the ears (tinnitus)

If you have any of these symptoms, then you need the services of someone like Dr. Nelson who is trained in neuromuscular dentistry.

When you come in for your appointment, it will be different from your typical dental examination. TMJ disorders are complex, and to properly diagnose you, Dr. Nelson will need a medical history, a dental history and a physical examination of your teeth, head and neck. He also uses high-tech electronic diagnostic tools that measure muscular tension and function. Some of these symptoms, such as headaches, can come from a variety of causes. That's why a thorough examination is important. A thorough examination will help you know if your bite is a major contributing factor to your problem. If it isn't, you can avoid unnecessary treatment. If it is, then you will appreciate the relief Dr. Nelson can provide.

What is "TMJ"?

TMJ is a term that comes from "temporomandibular joint," which is the jaw joint. TMJ disorder is a dysfunction of this joint, and some people shorten the name of the disorder to just "TMJ."

What is "TMD"?

The initials TMD mean temporomandibular joint dysfunction or disorder. Both TMJ and TMD are part of a  group of symptoms referred to as MPD (myofascial pain dysfunction) and craniomandibular dysfunction.

TMJ Treatment

If you are diagnosed with a neuromuscular disorder, treatment usually involves three steps:

• Relieve your pain.
  
  This is the first priority. The vast majority of clients come to see us because they are hurting and we don't want you to hurt! We use a technology called ULF-TENS, an acronym for Ultra Low Frequency Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation. Basically, this is gentle massage of the muscles to help relax them and minimize what is known as muscle antagonism. Massage relaxes your muscles by increasing blood flow and provides pain relief by stimulating the production of endorphins, your body’s natural anesthesia.
   
• Stabilize your bite.
  
  We may prescribe a temporary device, known as an orthotic, which you will wear over your teeth. We can adjust your orthotic without adjusting your teeth until your bite is stabilized.
   
• Develop a long term solution.
  
  Once your pain is relieved and your bite is stabilized, we can permanently adjust your bite to the correct position. There are several ways to do this. If the bite discrepancy isn't large, we can lightly but precisely reshape your teeth to correct your bite. This doesn't require anesthesia. Or we can create a permanent orthotic that will fit over your teeth (usually your back teeth) to help you maintain an aligned bite. Orthodontics can be used to move your teeth to positions where your bite will fit better. Or sometimes reconstruction is required, which involves placing crowns on your teeth to totally change the way they fit together.

The first and most important thing for you to know is that relief for your pain is available. A long term solution for your neuromuscular condition may be relatively simple. On the other hand, we are dealing with one of the most complex muscle groups in the body and a long term solution might be very complex and difficult to treat, depending upon the circumstances. We won't know about your situation until we examine and analyze you.  And, based on what we discover, we will recommend the most conservative treatment that makes things better for you.

Please request your complimentary information packet or contact Dr. Nelson to arrange for a complimentary private consultation. Make your request today. If you are experiencing pain, let us know and we will schedule your visit as soon as possible.

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• Request your  complimentary consultation or information package.
   
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