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 Neuromuscular dentistry is the science of dentistry that objectively evaluates the complex relationship of the teeth, the jaw joints, and the surrounding muscles of the head and neck. If your bite is incorrect, your jaw joints (the TMJs), your chewing muscles, and the surrounding head and neck muscles must work harder than they should to accommodate to the poor bite. Every time you chew or swallow, your teeth must come together (and this occurs about 2000 times a day) and if you have a bad bite, it means that your jaw joints and muscles must work extra hard to get the teeth together.
The goal of neuromuscular dentistry is to identify and correct an unstable bite to a neuromuscular bite where the teeth, the joints, and the muscles are all in harmony.
Dentists deeply involved with neuromuscular analysis share a particular perspective of dental function that is not fully understood by many health care professionals. The neuromuscular dentist understands the unique relationships of physics, biomechanics, circulatory systems, musculature, central and autonomic nervous systems, blood flow, pharmaceuticals and a myriad of other variables in a unique fashion.
- Headaches/migraines
- Neck, back and shoulder pain
- Jaw pain
- Jaw popping/clicking
- Limited jaw movement or locking jaw
- Difficulty chewing
- Earache/ear stuffiness
- Ringing of the ears
- Vertigo (dizziness)
- Numbness of scalp, face, arms and legs
- Facial pain
- Worn teeth
- Sensitive or sore teeth
- Depression
- Clenching/grinding during sleep
- Pain in the muscles surrounding the temporomandibular joints
 Deviation of the jaw to one side- Postural problems (forward head posture, for example)
- Pain in the sub-occipital (below back of skull), temporal (temples), frontal (above and between eyes), or infra-orbital (below the eyes) portions of the head
- A bite that feels uncomfortable, "off," or as if it is continually changing
- Poor sleep
Unfortunately, in many cases these symptoms are either misdiagnosed or dismissed as having no physiological cause. In a number of cases, these symptoms can actually be attributed to TMJ (temporomandibular joint syndrome), also referred to as TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder). These terms are just different names for the same group of symptoms. Snoring, grinding of teeth, frequent ear infections and restricted airway are other problems associated with TMJ / TMD.
Once the correct bite has been determined, the first phase of therapy involves making you a removable appliance called an orthotic that maintains the correct bite and helps to return the jaw joints and muscles to a healthy and relaxed state. Several weeks of physical therapy is typically needed to help restore involved muscles to proper function. Our physical therapist is specifically trained in neuromuscular dentistry. Once symptoms have been alleviated, we will together decide on a more permanent solution for long-term stability.
 
In contemporary orthodontics (versus traditional orthodontics), we take into account the complex relationship of the teeth, the jaw joints, and the surrounding muscles of the head and neck. All orthodontic patients in our practice are evaluated using the neuromuscular approach. We don’t just straighten teeth, we strive to correct neuromuscular problems which results in a more stable outcome. Even young children can experience these problems so while a child’s teeth may look fine, the bite may be incorrect. We strive to intercept neuromuscular problems before they cause severe symptoms.
  
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