Neuromuscular Dentistry

You may or may not have heard of neuromuscular dentistry. But chances are, you’re not quite sure what it means. How does is differ from normal dentistry, or cosmetic dentistry? What does a neuromuscular dentist do? And should you consider seeing one?

In simple terms, neuromuscular dentistry works with your jaw, rather than just the teeth and gums. By repositioning your misaligned jaw, a neuromuscular dentist may be able to relieve headaches, neck and shoulder pain, tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and a number of other symptoms related to temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ).

TMJ (or TMD) is a degenerative disease wherein the jaw-to-skull relationship is not properly aligned. This is often set into motion by a single, forceful bad bite (ever forget how to chew for a moment?) or over time when one grinds their teeth while sleeping.

A neuromuscular dentist determines the best position for your jaw by measuring the relaxed position of the head and neck muscles. They can relieve your TMJ / TMD symptoms by moving the jaw into this optimal position.

Be sure to check that your neuromuscular dentist has studied above and beyond the realms of “normal” dentistry. The most highly regarded school for neuromuscular dentists is probably the Las Vegas Institute of Advanced Dental Studies. You can check on their website to find out if your neuromuscular dentist has studied there. If not, find out where they learned their technique and do some research on that school. Like any other advanced medical procedure, there is a big difference between the best and the rest.

Neuromuscular dentistry may or may not be for you, but coming from a long-suffering headache and neck pain victim, I know the feeling of going to every doctor and chiropractor in the city to find out what’s causing the pain. Who knows, maybe it was in your jaw the whole time…