WHAT IS NEUROMUSCULAR DENTISTRY?
Neurmuscular dentistry is the term applied to techniques that expand upon the traditional mechanical approach to dentistry. To understand it, you must first know something about your occlusion.
Your "occlusion" is the way that your upper and lower teeth fit together. The muscles of your head and neck posture your jaw and hold the lower teeth close to the upper ones. You don't consciously hold your jaw in this position - it is "programmed" in your brain.
Traditional dentistry is based on mechanical concepts that assume that your present bite (occlusion) is best for you. Such dental treatment generally aims to restore your bite to that position - what might be called two-dimensional dentistry. Neuromuscular Dentistry takes into consideration a third dimension - the status and function of the muscles that control jaw position, chewing and swallowing.
Using computerized equipment, the Neuromuscular Dentist can measure and study the pattern of jaw opening and closing through its full range of motion and in three dimensions. The computer can also document the precise point at which your jaw is being held in relation to the upper teeth and can measure the activity of the key muscles that control the jaw - both in function and at rest. Rather than relying on your present jaw positon as being the best one for you, the dentist can use the additional objective information to determine if your jaw postion (bite) should be left as is or adjusted to a more optimal positon.
HOW ARE NEUROMUSCULAR TESTS DONE?
The tests are "non-invasive" - there are no injections, there is no pain. To do a Computerized Mandibular Scan (CMS), a tiny magnet is applied to your lower gum with sticky tape. You then wear very lightweight headgear much as you would wear a pair of glasses. Sensors on the headgear precisely follow the path of the magnet as you open and close your mouth and send the three-dimensional information to the computer as your jaw opens and closes.
Muscle activity is monitored with Surface Electromyography (SEMG), a technology very similar to an electrocardiogram. Thin wires are attached to the skin by adhesive patches. Tiny electrical signals emitted by your muscles are detected and sent to the computer.
On some occasions, your doctor may want to also study the sounds of your jaw joints. If so, it is done with Electrosonography (ESG). You wear a "Walkman" type headset to hold microphone-like sensors over each jaw joint. The sensors detect the joint sound vibrations as you open and close your mouth and transmit the sound data to the computer.
Typically the doctor will first want to do the CMS, SEMG and/or ESG tests to get your baseline data (record data in your present state). Then you may be connected to the Myomonitor, a mild, battery operated electrical muscle stimulator, again by means of wires attached with adhesive patches. The Myomonitor will painlessly exercise your facial and jaw muscles. This electrically induced exercise will overcome the "programming" of your muscles and allow them to achieve a truly relaxed state. After 40-60 minutes, the same tests will be repeated to gather data in this relaxed state. The baseline and relaxed data are stored in the computer. The doctor can now compare them to see if he/she thinks your jaw is presently in a near optimal position or whether your occlusion (jaw position) should be adjusted to provide improved function.
IS NEUROMUSCULAR DENTISTRY FOR YOU?
There are always options for you to choose from when deciding on dental treatment. After initially evaluating your situation, your dentist or treatment counselor will discuss those options with you. Sometimes the options may be as simple as choosing the type of restorative material to use in a filling or crown. Neuromuscular techniques would not be necessary for these relatively simple procedures.
If you are contemplating major dental procedures such as reconstruction (including cosmetic dentistry), orthodontics, or dentures, or if you suffer head/neck pain or other "TMJ" like symptoms, your choice of treatment becomes more important.
Traditional, "two dimensional" dental techniques may produce satisfactory results since the human system has considerable ability to accomodate. However, it is in these major cases that establishing the correct occlusion becomes so important. This is when choosing neuromuscular diagnostic techniques might have a positive and long term impact on the outcome of the treatment. Neuromuscular test results give your dentist added insight - that "third dimension" - that very well may allow him/her to speed completion and improve the final treatment results.
Is it for you? You should discuss this with your dentist.
Your "occlusion" is the way that your upper and lower teeth fit together. The muscles of your head and neck posture your jaw and hold the lower teeth close to the upper ones. You don't consciously hold your jaw in this position - it is "programmed" in your brain.
Traditional dentistry is based on mechanical concepts that assume that your present bite (occlusion) is best for you. Such dental treatment generally aims to restore your bite to that position - what might be called two-dimensional dentistry. Neuromuscular Dentistry takes into consideration a third dimension - the status and function of the muscles that control jaw position, chewing and swallowing.
Using computerized equipment, the Neuromuscular Dentist can measure and study the pattern of jaw opening and closing through its full range of motion and in three dimensions. The computer can also document the precise point at which your jaw is being held in relation to the upper teeth and can measure the activity of the key muscles that control the jaw - both in function and at rest. Rather than relying on your present jaw positon as being the best one for you, the dentist can use the additional objective information to determine if your jaw postion (bite) should be left as is or adjusted to a more optimal positon.
HOW ARE NEUROMUSCULAR TESTS DONE?
The tests are "non-invasive" - there are no injections, there is no pain. To do a Computerized Mandibular Scan (CMS), a tiny magnet is applied to your lower gum with sticky tape. You then wear very lightweight headgear much as you would wear a pair of glasses. Sensors on the headgear precisely follow the path of the magnet as you open and close your mouth and send the three-dimensional information to the computer as your jaw opens and closes.
Muscle activity is monitored with Surface Electromyography (SEMG), a technology very similar to an electrocardiogram. Thin wires are attached to the skin by adhesive patches. Tiny electrical signals emitted by your muscles are detected and sent to the computer.
On some occasions, your doctor may want to also study the sounds of your jaw joints. If so, it is done with Electrosonography (ESG). You wear a "Walkman" type headset to hold microphone-like sensors over each jaw joint. The sensors detect the joint sound vibrations as you open and close your mouth and transmit the sound data to the computer.
Typically the doctor will first want to do the CMS, SEMG and/or ESG tests to get your baseline data (record data in your present state). Then you may be connected to the Myomonitor, a mild, battery operated electrical muscle stimulator, again by means of wires attached with adhesive patches. The Myomonitor will painlessly exercise your facial and jaw muscles. This electrically induced exercise will overcome the "programming" of your muscles and allow them to achieve a truly relaxed state. After 40-60 minutes, the same tests will be repeated to gather data in this relaxed state. The baseline and relaxed data are stored in the computer. The doctor can now compare them to see if he/she thinks your jaw is presently in a near optimal position or whether your occlusion (jaw position) should be adjusted to provide improved function.
IS NEUROMUSCULAR DENTISTRY FOR YOU?
There are always options for you to choose from when deciding on dental treatment. After initially evaluating your situation, your dentist or treatment counselor will discuss those options with you. Sometimes the options may be as simple as choosing the type of restorative material to use in a filling or crown. Neuromuscular techniques would not be necessary for these relatively simple procedures.
If you are contemplating major dental procedures such as reconstruction (including cosmetic dentistry), orthodontics, or dentures, or if you suffer head/neck pain or other "TMJ" like symptoms, your choice of treatment becomes more important.
Traditional, "two dimensional" dental techniques may produce satisfactory results since the human system has considerable ability to accomodate. However, it is in these major cases that establishing the correct occlusion becomes so important. This is when choosing neuromuscular diagnostic techniques might have a positive and long term impact on the outcome of the treatment. Neuromuscular test results give your dentist added insight - that "third dimension" - that very well may allow him/her to speed completion and improve the final treatment results.
Is it for you? You should discuss this with your dentist.
