Neuromuscular Dentistry & Headache Relief

Most general dentists focus primarily on the form of teeth (shape, size, and color), often neglecting the importance of how the teeth function within a larger system. Neuromuscular Dentistry, or NMD, applies the belief that all of the surrounding components - such as the nerves ["neuro"] and the muscles ["muscular"] - need to be taken into account. Not only do your teeth need to be in good health, but they also need to work together with the interlocking muscles that move the joints so the teeth come together properly.

The term "occlusion" or "bite" is used to refer to the way the teeth meet. Many people shift their lower jaw left or right as they close their mouth. This frequently goes unnoticed until their teeth begin to grind down or they experience jaw, neck or head pain. When the teeth do not meet properly, this "malocclusion" causes increased stress and tension in the muscles that open and close the jaw. These muscles connect the jaw, neck and head together. And when they are stressed, pain can exist in one or all of these areas. Therefore, by completely relaxing these muscles we can determine what path the jaw would like to take in order for the teeth, muscles, jaw and joints to be in harmony. Practicing NMD means that we help determine where the patient's teeth should come together so that all of the back teeth hit at the same time, and in the same spot, with the same amount of pressure, every time they come together.

What is TMJ/TMD?

"Temporo" meaning head and "mandible" meaning the lower jaw, TMJ stands for the temporomandibular joints which connect the head and jaw together. Since your teeth are connected to your lower jaw by these ball-and-socket type joints, it makes sense that dentists should be well educated in these areas. Problems which occur within these regions are known as Temporomandibular Disorders, or TMD.

TMD can be treated non-invasively and without medication with Neuromuscular Dentistry, or NMD. Neuromuscular Dentistry (neuro=nerves and muscular=muscles) deals with the nerves and muscles that are responsible for moving your lower jaw and the joints.

Many dentists however do not practice this concept which is based on statistically objective data. Instead they attempt to treat the condition arbitrarily. Developed over 30 years ago, NMD practices the logical view that the teeth, mandible, tmj's, head and neck are all interrelated and must all work together. If there is a problem in one of these areas, there may easily be a problem in another. However, traditional dentistry usually only considers one tooth at a time, or treats you on an acute basis with one problem at a time. Traditional dentistry also assumes that your present bite (how and where your lower and upper teeth meet upon closing) is best for you. As such, any changes made to your mouth, such as fillings or crowns, are made to accommodate this bite --whether it is right or wrong. When it is wrong, the surrounding muscles must overcompensate for the bad bite each time you chew, swallow and yawn - and that's over 1,000 times a day! As a result, the muscles go into spasm and many painful symptoms can arise such as head or neck aches, grinding or ringing in the ears. NMD considers how your teeth, muscles and joints interact and helps to ensure that they are working in harmony. So if your bite isn't right, the muscles become tight and the pain will ignite.

We've only briefly touched upon how your dental health can often be responsible for a myriad of painful problems. As always, we understand the importance of seeing your general physician first to rule out any serious conditions for your concerns. However, we encourage you to consider Neuromuscular Dentistry as a logical, non-invasive, non-medicating alternative. We hope that  you gain a better understanding of how your teeth, jaw, joints and muscles are related and how addressing the causes and not just the symptoms could improve your overall quality of life.

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