Neuromuscular Dentistry & Headache Relief
Treatment:
Once you have been
diagnosed with a problem, we can
determine the best course of treatment for your specific needs.
Typically treatment will follow three steps:
- Relieve muscle spasm and
pain.
The immediate concern for
us is to provide relief of your
symptoms. The best way to do this is by using a technology
called ULF-TENS. ULF-TENS stands for Ultra Low Frequency
Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation, but don’t let
this term intimidate you. Basically, ULF-TENS is a way to
relax muscles with a gentle massage of the muscles. The
rhythmic pulsing relaxes the muscles by increasing blood
flow and pumping out waste products. ULF-TENS also helps
with pain relief by stimulating the body’s production of
endorphins, the body’s natural anesthetic.
- Stabilize the bite.
Often for this step a temporary
device, known as an orthotic is worn over the teeth. The
orthotic allows Dr. Katz to make
easy adjustments to the plastic without adjusting the teeth
until the bite is stabilized. Once symptoms are relieved and
the bite has been stabilized, you can
move on to the next step and permanently adjust your
bite to the correct position.
- Long-term management.
There are a variety of ways to
correct your bite in a more permanent way. Four of the most
common of these approaches are outlined below:
- Coronoplasty/Equilibration
Coronoplasty is smoothing and
reshaping the enamel of the teeth to correct your bite. It
is a simple procedure that does not require anesthesia and
can be used when the bite is only slightly misaligned.
- Removable Overlay Partials
These are permanent orthotics that usually fit over the back
teeth and are designed to maintain an aligned bite.
- Reconstruction
This approach involves making the teeth higher by using
crowns. This permanently realigns the bite and provides
structural support for the jaw.
- Orthodontics (Braces)
When the teeth are healthy they may be moved to the optimal
position using braces.
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