What Does a Neuromuscular Dentist Do?

Have you ever experienced a persistent headache that just will not go away, or sharp pain in your jaw when you chew? Many people suffer from chronic pain in their face or head without realizing that the root cause may have to do with their mouth. If you have severe head or jaw pain, or sleep apnea, it’s important to see a neuromuscular dentist. A neuromuscular dentist takes a comprehensive approach to your health, evaluating not just the teeth, but also your muscles, joints, and nerves that control jaw function. In this post, learn about the advanced techniques and tools neuromuscular dentists use, and the significant relief you can get from this specialized treatment.

What is Neuromuscular Dentistry?

Neuromuscular dentistry focuses on jaw alignment and the way your teeth, jaw joints, and chewing muscles work together. When they’re out of balance, this can create stress and tension that radiates through your head and neck. A misaligned bite forces your jaw muscles to work harder, and this constant muscle tension leads to chronic pain, worn-down teeth, and weakened bite function. By measuring the electrical activity of your muscles and tracking the movement of your jaw, Dr. Marzban, a neuromuscular dentist will help correct your bite so it’s back to a normal, relaxed bite.

What Conditions Does Neuromuscular Dentistry Treat?

Neuromuscular dentistry treats a wide range of issues that causes a misaligned bite.

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders

The most common condition treated by neuromuscular dentistry is TMJ. The temporomandibular joints connect your lower jaw to your skull, and when these joints become inflamed or misaligned, this can be really painful. Symptoms of TMJ disorders include, a clicking or popping sound when opening the mouth, difficulty chewing, or a locked jaw. A neuromuscular dentistry focuses on realigning the jaw to take the pressure off these joints so they can heal and function properly.

Chronic Headaches and Migraines

Many people who suffer from chronic headaches or migraines spend years looking for relief from neurologists and pain specialists. They likely never think about talking to their dentist about this. An overlooked cause of chronic headaches and migraines could be due to an improper bite. When your teeth don’t correctly align, the muscles in your head and neck strain to compensate. Over time, this constant strain causes painful muscle spasms. By relaxing these muscles and correcting the bite, a neuromuscular dentist can often reduce or completely eliminate chronic headaches.

Sleep Apnea and Snoring

Sleep apnea is a serious condition where a person stops breathing for short periods during the night, often due to the lower jaw shifting backward while sleeping which narrows or blocks the airway. Sleep apnea doesn't just affect your sleep, but also affects your oral health. Dr. Marzban can help treat sleep apnea by designing a custom oral appliance you’ll wear while you sleep to ensure your airway remains open.

What Technology Do Neuromuscular Dentistists Use? 

Dr. Marzban uses advanced technology to measure, track, and relax your jaw muscles.

TENS Therapy

Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation (TENS) delivers mild electrical impulses to the muscles of the jaw, neck, and shoulders. These impulses act like a deep tissue massage, causing the muscles to gently twitch and relax. The muscles need to be relaxed so that your natural bite can be measured. TENS therapy is a non-invasive, drug-free, and painless treatment that usually provides immediate pain relief for patients suffering from TMJ.

K7 Evaluation System

The K7 Evaluation System is a diagnostic tool used in neuromuscular dentistry to measure and record how your jaw muscles and jaw joints are functioning. This tool is used to help determine your ideal jaw position where muscles are most relaxed and joints are properly aligned.

T-Scan Bite Analysis

The T-Scan Bite Analysis is a digital diagnostic tool used to measure and analyze how your teeth come together when you bite. Instead of relying on bite paper, the T-Scan uses a thin electronic sensor that records bite force, timing, and pressure distribution in real time.

CT Scan For TMJ

A CT scan for TMJ is a 3D imaging test that gives your dentists detailed views of the jaw joints, surrounding bone structures, and their alignment. Unlike standard dental X-rays, a CT scan (CBCT) captures the TMJ from multiple angles, creating a precise 3D model of the area.

What Are the Benefits of Neuromuscular Dentistry?

A neuromuscular dentist will give you daily relief from headaches, migraines, TMJ, and sleep apnea by addressing the root cause of your pain rather than just the symptoms, so you can feel better and have long-lasting improvements to your overall health.

Pain Relief

Patients who have lived with chronic jaw pain, facial soreness, migraines, and headaches, often find immediate relief with neuromuscular treatments. By relaxing the muscles and permanently correcting your bite, you'll be able to chew and talk without pain.

Better Posture

You might not realize that your jaw alignment directly affects your posture. When your jaw is out of alignment, your head tilts slightly to compensate, which forces your neck and shoulder muscles to work harder to support your head. When your bite is corrected, this relieves tension in the neck and back so you have better posture.

Schedule an Appointment With Dr. Marzban, a Neuromuscular Dentist in Burke, Virginia

If you suffer from chronic headaches, migraines, jaw pain, or sleep apnea, your bite might be the cause of the pain. Contact Marzban, DDS to schedule an appointment by calling us at 703-323-8200 or filling out our online form. We serve Burke, Fairfax, Fairfax Station, and Northern Virginia, and are conveniently located in the Kings Park Professional Building.

FAQs

• How is neuromuscular dentistry different from general dentistry?

  General dentistry primarily focuses on teeth and gums, while neuromuscular dentistry takes a more comprehensive approach by evaluating muscles and jaw joints to improve alignment, bite function, and other related symptoms that are causing head and jaw pain.

• What conditions can neuromuscular dentistry help with?

  Neuromuscular dentistry can treat TMJ disorders, jaw pain, headaches, teeth grinding (bruxism), facial tension, neck pain, sleep apnea, and bite misalignment issues.

• What is the goal of neuromuscular treatment?

  The goal is to achieve a jaw position where the muscles are relaxed, the joints are stable, and the bite functions comfortably and evenly.

• Does neuromuscular dentistry involve surgery?

  Neuromuscular dentistry uses non-invasive techniques to relax muscles and realign the jaw. Surgery is rarely needed and is only considered as a last treatment resort.

• How long does neuromuscular treatment take?

  Treatment length varies depending on the severity of the condition and the type of neuromuscular therapy needed.