Have your ever heard of TMJ?
TMJ, is an acronym for your temporomandibular, or jaw joint.Temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders (TMJ disorders) are a condition that causes symptoms of pain and discomfort due to an unbalanced or misaligned bite.
If your jaw is not working as it should, it strains the surrounding muscles. As the muscles tire, they become tight and inflamed, putting pressure on the nerves that run through them. It’s that pressure that causes the nerves to send pain signals to your brain causing, among other things, headaches.
So how can a dentist be your headache remedy?
1. Making?an accurate diagnosis
TMJ diagnosis IS rocket science. OK that’s a bit of a exaggeration, but TMJ is very complex. A dentist who is trained in the principles of neuromuscular dentistry uses advanced technology to diagnose your TMJ disorder such as:
- CT Scans to digitally photography your jaw
- K-7 instrumentation to track jaw and measure jaw movement
- Transcutaneous Electro Neural Stimulation (TENS) to relax your jaw into its optimal position
2. Bringing balance back to your bite
Once your optimal bite has been determined, the “TMJ dentist” restores to?your bite through:
- veneers
- orthodontics
- dental bonding
- dental implants
How do you find a dentist who can help?
Not all dentists are training in neuromuscular dentistry. When seeking TMJ treatment or dental headache relief information, it’s important to look for someone who’s trained and has the technology to give you that critical diagnoses. The key word I recommend looking for is neuromuscular.
If you would like to learn more about TMJ, please download me free e-book.