Introduction to Neuromuscular Dentistry

Common dentistry treats only the teeth. It ignores the jaw joints and active muscles that are responsible for moving the jaw and bringing the teeth together. In other words, common dentistry forces the jaw joints and muscles to accommodate to the existing bite of the teeth.

Sometimes it is obvious that teeth don’t fit properly. But even when the teeth appear to mesh together uniformly, the bite might be forcing the jaw joints and muscles out of alignment.

Jaw joints forced out of alignment by the bite of the teeth can become damaged, noisy and uncomfortable. Physical damage and uncomfortable symptoms vary from intermittent and barely noticeable, to constant and severe.

Muscles forced out of alignment can become tight, tired and sore. Headaches are common. And so is teeth grinding and many other symptoms actually caused by an improper bite.

Most fillings, crowns, bridges and even orthodontic braces performed using common techniques are done without accurately diagnosing the condition of the bite. Furthermore, the jaw joints and muscles tend to become more misaligned and more common dentistry is performed.

Neuromuscular dentistry differs from "common" dentistry in that neuromuscular dentistry recognizes the importance of the muscles, and treats the jaw to a comfortable, relaxed muscle position that is in harmony with the bite of the teeth.

The neuromuscular approach is very effective for treating various levels of head and neck pain, and it also greatly contributes to the longevity of the teeth, dental restorations and periodontium.

Establishing a neuromuscularly balanced jaw position before starting any major restorative, dental prosthetic or orthodontic procedure, helps prevent muscular imbalances that lead to compromised posture and instability of the teeth and their supporting bones.

Patients looking for state-of-the-art care, especially those who find themselves in the complex or difficult to treat category, should seriously consider neuromuscular dentistry. And those who are tired of educated guesses, ineffective bite splints and trial and error treatment protocols.

A comprehensive assessment will help to accurately diagnose and develop a treatment plan that will best meet an individual’s needs for long term optimal dental health and comfort.

Teeth, muscles and jaw joints in conflict can cause a variety of physical problems and symptoms:

Migraines, muscle tension headaches and sinus headaches
Face or jaw pain
Muscle twitching
Neck, shoulder or back pain
Forward head posturing
Numbness in arms or fingers
Sensitive or sore teeth
Loose or shifting teeth
Worn, cracked, chipped or broken teeth or dental restorations
Teeth clenching or grinding
TMD (temporomandibular/jaw joint dysfunction)
Clicking, popping or grating sounds in the jaw joints
Soreness or pain in or around the jaw joints
Limited jaw movement
Ringing in the ears
Congestion or stuffiness of the ears

Many people suffer from one or more of these symptoms. Unfortunately, misdiagnosis is generally the rule in the medical profession when it comes to jaw joint and neuromuscular disorders of the jaws. Symptoms are often overlooked, ignored or mistakenly attributed to other ailments. Sometimes, the misaligned bite causes no pain, but it is still responsible for chipped, worn, cracked and shifting teeth. To complicate matters, it is not uncommon for people to feel normal when they have symptoms, because having symptoms is all they have ever experienced.

New techniques of collecting objective computerized data have made it possible for Dr. Michael Westman to help many people who have previously been unable to find relief. Many of those people never knew how much more comfortable they could be. We invite you to ask us about how neuromuscular dentistry might improve your life.