NEUROMUSCULAR DENTISTRY… Is it nerves? Is it muscles?

Do you get headaches on a consistent basis? Do you blame it on stress? You are not alone. Using a neuromuscular approach to treating patients may help the many headache sufferers. But what exactly is it?

Neuromuscular dentistry is nothing new. Actually, it has been around for some thirty years, but is not the traditional approach to patient care in dentistry. It refers to the muscles of the head and neck, the nerves related to them, and how they all work together. The symptoms of neuromuscular disharmony are related to the “TMJ” or temporomandibular joint. Many patients complain that their jaw pops and clicks. They often complain of pain around the joint. If you have these symptoms, then you are not alone.

In reality, however, 95% of people do not have true “TMJ” problems. Unless trauma, or injury is involved, pain form the joint comes from the surrounding muscles. If you treat the muscles and get them “relaxed”, then the majority of symptoms will resolve. But what are the symptoms? As you read them, think of how many apply to yourself.

-Headaches or migraines
-Pain or pressure in and about the eyes
-Sinus problems
-Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
-Clogging, stuffiness, or subjective hearing loss
-Pain in and around the jaw
-Stiffness or soreness in your neck, shoulders, and back, sometimes radiating down your arm to your fingers
-Snoring
-Vertigo (dizziness)
-Habits of grinding and clenching your teeth
-Sensitive teeth

These are just to name a few. Make no mistake, headaches are not just from stress. Neck and shoulder problems are not from just sitting at a computer for many hours. Sinus problems are not from just allergies. But how does all this relate to your teeth?

If you have ever seen a person with no teeth in their mouth, they basically look like their chin can touch their nose. That is because their teeth are not present to create a vertical stop as to how far they can close. Well, just because you have teeth does not mean that you close at the correct position either. As you use your teeth, they wear, and get shorter causing you to be over closed when your teeth are in contact. Now, here is where the muscles come in to play. At complete rest, your teeth are separated by a certain amount. Dentists call this freeway space. When it is time for your teeth to be put to use for eating, speaking or even swallowing, the muscles contract. Well, imagine that you have worn or shorter teeth. Your resting space is larger than ideal, and the muscles would have to contract more to get the teeth to contact. The muscles do not like this, and compensate by STAYING perpetually contracted, so that the resting freeway space is reduced. This chronic contracture of the muscles causes spasms, pain and soreness. Just like when you exercise, muscles contract. After a while they get fatigued, produce lactic acid ( which is what causes the spasms and discomfort) and hurt. Your muscles in your face and around your joints are no different.

With the use of electromyography ( electrical muscle activity), joint sonography(sound), and jaw tracking, as well as through muscle palpation, and the most simple test of all, asking you about your symptoms, this problem can be diagnosed and treated accurately, and conservatively.

So, the next time you reach for the Advil for that afternoon headache, think what it would be like to not get those headaches, and come in for your comprehensive exam today. I look forward to improving the quality of your life.