TMD

Serving Greater Southern Maine and the New Hampshire Seacoast.

Neuromuscular dentistry is the diagnosis and treatment of jaw joint problems. Temporomandibular disorder, or TMD, is the term given to any number of jaw joint problems that can lead to a misaligned bite. The temporomandibular joints are the joints on either side of the mouth that facilitate jaw function and allow you to eat, speak, and chew. TMD can be a very serious problem if ignored, potentially affecting the appearance and function of your teeth, as well as your muscles, ligaments, nerves, cartilage, tendons, and jaw bone.

How to Spot TMD Symptoms

Even though TMD indicates a jaw joint problem, the condition has far-reaching effects that can intrude on a client’s ability to work or enjoy life. Symptoms of neuromuscular distress include but are not limited to:

  • Headaches/migraines
  • Earaches
  • Toothaches
  • Loose teeth
  • Rapid wearing of enamel
  • Frequent dental work
  • Jaw pain
  • Pain in the neck, head, and shoulders
  • Difficulty chewing
  • Facial aches and pains
  • Clicking or popping sounds in the jaw
  • Jaw tenderness
  • Limited range of jaw motion
  • Locking of the jaw
  • Dizziness
  • Trouble hearing
  • Numbness in the hands and arms

While there is no single identifiable cause of TMD, pre-existing conditions such as fractures, dislocations, arthritis, and other issues may contribute to its development. We also know that factors like poor posture, tooth grinding, poor diet, lack of sleep, and dental work all play a role in jaw misalignment.

The Neuromuscular Diagnostic Process

If you are suffering from TMD, a neuromuscular dentist can play an integral role in restoring a healthy bite and eliminating painful symptoms. With neuromuscular problems, it is important that each client receive an in-depth evaluation and a highly personalized assessment of their condition. The causes of TMD can vary widely, so it is up to the neuromuscular dentist to use diagnostic tools to find the root of the problem. During your visit, our LVI-trained TMD dentists will utilize the advanced K7 system to gather objective data that can help in the diagnosis of the specific problem in your jaw. From here we are able to create a “blueprint” of your optimal jaw position, and then suggest treatment options that will bring you relief and encourage realignment.

Treatment Options for TMD Clients

There are a number of ways to treat TMD, and remedies will vary based on the results of the jaw mapping and your case presentation. Ideally, we aim to suggest the more conservative treatment options first — and in many cases, simple therapies (such as jaw massage, exercises, or T.E.N.S. therapy) and lifestyle alterations lead to successful jaw realignment. Often, symptom relief can be achieved by improving strength and flexibility in the jaw muscles. Vitamin supplements, inflammation-reduction or muscle-relaxant medication, diet changes, postural education, and heat/cold therapy is often used to bring about positive results. For others, oral appliances or mouth guards may be worn to encourage balance in the upper and lower jaws. Surgery to repair alignment issues may be used, but is uncommon and recommended as a last resort.

If you have experienced one or more of the TMD symptoms listed above, talk to an experienced Kennebunk neuromuscular dentist today about symptom relief. At Kennebunk Center for Dentistry, we have the skill and technology necessary to effectively diagnose and treat your bite problems.

Welcome to Kennebunk Center for Dentistry website, please upgrade your Flash Plugin and enable JavaScript.