K7 Neuromuscular Evaluation

At Kennebunk Center for Dentistry, we want all our patients to receive maximum care in every way. For those who suffer from TMJ, Dr. Sheikh uses the K7 Neuromuscular Evaluation system. With a series of three simple and non-invasive evaluations, our dentist can have access to information that was not previously available about patient TM joints, allowing them to provide you with a more accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment plan. We invite you to learn more about how being treated with the K7 Neuromuscular Evaluation System in Kennebunk, Maine, can help your TMJ by calling us today at 207-985-7944 and scheduling your appointment with our dentist.

The K7 Neuromuscular Evaluation is a 3-part system used to evaluate jaw movement and diagnose how a patient may be suffering from TMJ. Each test is simple and non-invasive, providing our dentist with essential data that will help them understand your unique situation and supply an accurate, effective treatment plan. The three evaluations consist of the following:

Mandibular Scanner

In a spectacle-like array, this scanner contains multiple sensors that track the motion of a tiny magnet that is temporarily attached to the patient’s lower incisors. The design of this scanner is to be non-invasive and to prevent any interference with jaw movement. There is also enough space for our dentist to take bite registrations during the evaluation, and because the scanner is not affected by small head movements, taking bite registrations will not skew the results. Once the scan is complete, our dentist is provided with a 3D representation of the patient’s jaw while it is resting and moving. These scans guide our dentist to know the exact mandibular position and movement, and to pick up on any abnormalities that may be causing your TMJ disorder.

Electromyography

For this treatment, patients will wear a small monitor around their neck, and our dentist will attach small bipolar surface electrodes to your face that read your muscle electrical activity. These electrodes can read data while you are resting and moving, which allows our dentist to get a full evaluation of how your muscles are working and if they contribute to your TMJ pain. The results of this electromyography allow our dentist to view up to 8 channels, meaning they can view 8 different muscles sites at once and evaluate their interaction. This system also includes a patient education mode, allowing our patients to get a quick and easy understanding of their muscular status.

K7/ESG Electrosonography

During this procedure, the patient will wear a lightweight headset where each end rests on the outer, epidural surface of your TM joint. This system sends out sonographic waves that bounce off your TM joints and create vibrations. These tissue vibrations are picked up by the sensitive transducers in the headset and record the sound data. These data is correlated to the vertical position of your joint when you open and close your mouth, and it allows our dentist to evaluate whether the TM joint is functioning properly.

The K7 Neuromuscular Evaluation System is compact and a Windows-based software, meaning that our dentist can perform any or all of the evaluations conveniently in-office. For more information, please contact our office; we are happy to answer any questions!