Royal Oak and Birmingham, MI
Have you ever experienced a persistent ringing in the ears? What about chronic headaches, especially first thing in the morning, that respond poorly to even powerful pain relief medication? Maybe you hear clicking or popping sounds when your jaws open and close? Well, all of these seemingly separate issues can stem from the same cause – temporomandibular joint disorder. More commonly known as TMJ disorder, this is a serious ailment that requires treatment from a qualified medical professional … such as a neuromuscular dentist. In fact, a neuromuscular dentist is the best-qualified medical professional to provide both a proper diagnosis and effective treatment for TMJ disorder. Today on the blog, let’s learn more about neuromuscular dentistry and its importance.
What is neuromuscular dentistry?
Neuromuscular dentistry focuses on the alignment of the bite and jaw. It seeks to maintain the ideal alignment or, when issues occur, restore that alignment. Neuromuscular dentistry is not taught as part of the curriculum during dental school. Interested practitioners must pursue it on a post-graduate level, which involves intensive education and rigorous training.
A trained, experienced neuromuscular dentistry uses their wealth of knowledge to find or restore the ideal alignment and optimal resting position for your jaw. Once the correct alignment has been found, this will remove any other symptoms or oral health issues that developed due to the misalignment–such as a case of TMJ disorder.
How does a neuromuscular dentist identify and treat TMJ disorder?
By focusing on the root cause of this disorder – in other words, whatever is causing the temporomandibular joint to malfunction. This is a small, round joint that connects the jaw to the skull on either side of the head. The temporomandibular joint controls, among other things, the ability of the jaws to open and close.
If someone is experiencing symptoms of TMJ disorder, a neuromuscular dentist determines if the disorder actually is present. This diagnosis is made by combining their own education and training with state-of-the-art technology. If TMJ disorder is detected, a neuromuscular dentist provides treatment, usually through a course of oral appliance therapy. This entails wearing a customized oral appliance that repositions the jaws into their preferred alignment, alleviating whatever is leading the temporomandibular joint to malfunction.
When should I see a neuromuscular dentist?
Patients with severe or untreated TMJ disorder may experience debilitating levels of pain, or other symptoms that negatively affect appetite, sleep patterns, stress and create other issues that impede your daily life. You do not have to live with these problems. Instead, schedule a consultation with a trained neuromuscular dentist today.
TMJ disorder will not go away on its own. Left untreated or undiagnosed, the effects of this ailment will continue to worsen. Vertigo, pinched nerves, misaligned vertebrae or numbness in the extremities all could develop as consequences of a case of severe or long-standing TMJ disorder.
Dr. Nancy Hartrick is proud to offer neuromuscular dentistry services to her patients in Royal Oak, Birmingham and the surrounding areas of Michigan. Just call the office of Hartrick Dentistry at (248) 549-0950 to make your appointment.