Neuromuscular Dentistry
Neuromuscular Dentist in North Alabama
What is neuromuscular dentistry?
Neuromuscular dentistry places the jaw into its optimal position, relieving a variety of symptoms. When the jaw is crooked or out of alignment, both the hard and soft tissues are affected. Several physiological problems can result from this condition, including:
- Headaches
- Jaw pain
- Tinnitus or ringing in the ears
- Vertigo
- Clicking or popping of the jaw joint
In many cases these symptoms are a result of TMJ (temperomandibular joint syndrome), also referred to as TMD (temperomandibular joint disorder) or MPD (myofascial pain dysfunction).
TMJ/TMD is a chronic degenerative disease that often takes years to develop and affects millions of people. People who suffer from TMJ have an imbalance in the jaw-to-skull relationship caused by a bad bite (malocclusion).
Treatment
Neuromuscular dentistry treats TMJ and related symptoms by correcting the bite and realigning the jaw. First the dentist determines the optimal position of the jaw by measuring the relaxed position of the head and neck muscles, and then repositions the jaw to achieve those exact measurements. The malocclusion is corrected in a variety of ways:
- Adjusting the bite
- Orthotics
- Orthodontics
- Restoring the teeth to their correct positions.
Benefits
Patients of neuromuscular dentistry experience a range of benefits from decreased or eliminated pain and discomfort to better overall health, longer lasting restorations, leaving the patient with a better smile. Many times, patients who have chosen to restore their teeth to the optimal jaw position are rewarded with a healthy beautiful smile and a more youthful appearance. In fact when the bite is optimized a patient's face will sometimes appear lengthened giving them the look of a person who had benefited from a facelift.
For more information about the benefits of neuromuscular dentistry in the Decatur and Huntsville, Alabama area, contact Dr. Randall Sandlin. As an LVI graduate Dr. Sandlin is experienced in all aspects of neuromuscular dentistry and has been helping patients achieve beautiful, healthy, and harmonious smiles for many years. Also, feel free to visit www.leadingdentists.com to answer all your questions about neuromuscular dentistry.
Contact Us
Decatur Center for Cosmetic, Laser, and Sedation Dentistry,
Center for Dental Sleep Medicine
Dr. Randall Sandlin
1318 Stratford Road
Decatur, AL 35601
Professional model, individual results may vary. See your sleep clinic for follow-up testing.