Treatment for TMD

Very few people have an absolutely perfect bite, yet many of us have a tolerance for some degree of abnormality and can function very well in spite of it. If you only occasionally experience pain associated with TMD, you may choose to manage the condition. But if your condition is more serious, you may want to explore provisional or permanent treatment.

Provisional Treatment – Phase One

Before providing any permanent solutions, we must first make certain that occlusion (or the alignment of teeth) is likely the cause of the problem. To do this, we utilize a number of sophisticated tools and techniques.

Sonography (SONO)

Sonography (SONO) measures the sounds that are made by the muscles when they are in motion. This allows us to evaluate the location and duration of sounds made by distressed muscles against those made by muscles that are not under distress.

Electromyography (EMG)

Electromyography (EMG) records muscle activity when the jaw is in a variety of positions such as clenched or open. It allows the doctor to evaluate the extent of stress muscles are under in various positions including a patient’s current neutral position.

Computerized Mandibular Scanning (CMS)

Computerized Mandibular Scanning (CMS) measures the physical movement of the jaw including range of motion and velocity during a variety of movements.

Transcutaneous Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation (TENS)

Transcutaneous Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation (TENS) allows us to find your natural jaw position. The unit stimulates muscles to work out the lactic acid and increase the flow of fresh blood and oxygen to fully relax the muscles. After the TENS procedure, we will be able to determine your ideal position. We can then develop a treatment plan to address your individual needs.

Orthotic

An orthotic is a custom-made appliance fabricated of clear acrylic that can be worn over the teeth to maintain the correct bite position. You typically wear this appliance for a prescribed period of time to verify that this new jaw position solves or reduces the problem.

Permanent Treatment

Once the orthotic has provided relief or resolved the problem for a period of time, you may elect to have your teeth treated to permanently maintain the new bite position. Treatment will depend on your particular condition and could include reconstruction using crowns and/or veneers, orthodontics or other procedures to permanently alter your bite. In some cases patients may elect to continue wearing the orthotic created during the provisional phase of treatment.

Contact Allure Dental

To learn more about neuromuscular dentistry, please contact us to schedule a consultation.