What is Neuromuscular Dentistry?

    WASHINGTON, DC, October 10, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- When you go to the dentist and have your teeth cleaned and checked for cavities, or have teeth removed or fixed this is usually general dentistry. Neuromuscular dentistry is different and focuses on the muscles and the joints around the jaw, face and shoulders. The joint behind the jaw, the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, is a main focus of the neuromuscular dentist. When the TMJ is not aligned or not working properly it can stress out other joins and muscles in the area and cause pain in the neck, face and shoulders. Headaches and earaches are also commonly involved. Any of these disorders with the TMJ, are called Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMD).

A neuromuscular dentist is going to give a more advanced and complete analysis of the jaw to determine if the jaw and all of it aspects are working right. There are many things that can lead to TMD.
• If your teeth are not aligned right or you have a severe overbite or under-bite, this can cause unusual chewing patterns leading to the TMJ getting stressed out.
• Malocclusion, which is improperly aligned teeth leading to a misaligned bite can also be a culprit.
• A previous trauma to the TMJ.
• Bruxism, which is constant tooth grinding that can gradually push the TMJ out of alignment.

Not all dentists practice neuromuscular dentistry. The treatment of TMD can often solve problems that are otherwise confusing to the medical world. Many people suffer from TMD and take pain medications that there doctor prescribed because they don't know the origin of the pain. Many people are believed to have some form of TMD and usually just deal with the pain, not knowing that a trip to a neuromuscular dentist can often solve our problem, faster than we dreamed.

By finding the correct placement of the jaw in relationship to the skull, a neuromuscular dentist might start by fixing your teeth so they align properly. Physical therapy might be needed to retrain muscles. But when this system is working right, a pain free life is ahead. However, if any little thing goes wrong, it can offset the process. The TMJ is a very important and strong joint and taking care of it should be a major concern of all.

If you live in the Northern Virginia and Washington D.C. areas and you want to learn more about neuromuscular dentistry and TMD/TMJ, Please visit the website of Dr. Michael Chung, and Softouch Dental Care.

Website: http://www.softouchdentalcare.com

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