Neuromuscular Dentistry:
What Is It and What Can It Do For Me?

Written By: Dr. David T. Kiger

Specializing in Creating Beautiful Smiles And Functional Bites: What is Neuromuscular Dentistry?

Neuromuscular (neuro-nerves; muscular-muscles) Dentistry is the art and science of establishing an occlusion (bite) with Biomedical computerized instrumentation. It is used before, during and after therapy in order to obtain optimal conditions of the muscles that open and close the jaw.

Neuromuscular Dentistry recognizes that the muscles that move the jaw must be in a comfortable, relaxed position to harmonize with the teeth and joints. Common symptoms that occur when teeth, jaws, and muscles are in conflict include:

  • Headaches
  • Loose teeth
  • Worn, chipped, or cracked teeth or fillings
  • Clenching or grinding
  • Ditched root grooves
  • Pain or clicking and popping in joints
  • Shoulder, neck, and back pain
  • Numbness in arms and fingers
  • Pain behind the eyes
  • Facial pain
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Pain and sensitivity in teeth
  • Crowded teeth
  • Receding gums
  • Ringing or congestion in the ears

The Goal of Neuromuscular Dentistry is to find the position of the jaw where the muscles are relaxed, at rest, and balanced. We utilize a number of sophisticated computerized instruments, called a K-7 unit, to find this position in which the jaws, teeth, and muscles operate in harmony.

Sonography is one parameter that is measured by our K-7. Sonography involves placing a set of sensitive microphones, that look like headphones, over the joints to measure joint sounds, pops, and where they occur in the opening and closing of the joints. These sounds can then be analyzed with respect to frequency, which allows evaluation of joint damage.

An eight-channel electromyography (similar to an EKG that physicians use to measure activity of the heart muscles) is used to measure activity of eight muscles before and after these muscles are relaxed and balanced. The muscles measured are the ones that have a role in opening and closing of the jaw.

After base line data is recorded, we utilize a device called the Myo-monitor to relax the muscles. It is a low frequency T.E.N.S. (Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation) unit. This device delivers a mild electrical impulse to the muscles that move the jaw. The rhythmic pulsing (once every 1.5 seconds) relaxes the muscles. In addition to relaxing the muscles, it sets up ideal muscle function by increasing blood flow thereby flushing out toxins. After 45 minutes of stimulation, the muscles are usually in their ideal position.

After the muscles have been relaxed and verified with the electromyography, we use a Mandible Scanning Unit that has a magnet placed on your lower teeth and a Sensor Array to measure and record this ideal position in three dimensions. This position is then recorded and transferred to casts or models of your teeth.

Once we have verified the comfortable position of the lower jaw, we can fabricate an orthotic bite appliance that allows the jaw to close to this ideal position. In this position, the muscles are at an ideal length and will not go into spasm. Muscles will heal, pain trigger points will go away, and joint capsules will heal. This orthotic is left in place for three months to stabilize the bite and insure that all symptoms are gone. At this point a decision is made to:

  • Wear the orthotic bite appliance indefinitely
  • Orthodontic treatment (braces) to move teeth to this ideal position
  • One or two arches of teeth restored, usually with crowns and porcelains veneers
  • A combination of orthodontics and restoration to obtain this ideal position.

If there are questions concerning neuromuscular dentistry, or aesthetic and functional
dentistry, please feel free to call my office.

Websites:
www.lvidentist.com
www.leadingdentists.com

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