What is Portland Neuromuscular Dentistry?

Portland Neuromuscular Dentists can realign your bite and resolve your TMJ / TMD symptoms. To put it simply, neuromuscular dentistry places the jaw into its optimal position, relieving the symptoms associated with TMJ. While traditional dentistry evaluates primarily the teeth, bones, and gums, neuromuscular dentistry works with the hard tissues and the soft tissues, muscles and nerves. Neuromuscular dentists understand that your hard and soft tissues have a complex relationship and work to make that relationship a harmonious one. Neuromuscular dentists understand the necessity for including the power source (muscles) and the controls (nerves) which create the movement, pressures, and function of the mouth.

When the jaw is misaligned, both the hard and soft tissues are affected and many physiological problems can result, such as headaches, jaw pain, neck and shoulder pain, tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, and clicking or popping sounds in the jaw joint. In a number of cases, these symptoms are the result of TMJ (temporomandibular joint syndrome), also referred to as TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder) or MPD (myofascial pain dysfunction).

TMJ / TMD is a chronic degenerative disease that often takes years to develop. TMJ affects millions of people. People who suffer from TMJ have an imbalance in the jaw-to-skull relationship, which is caused by a bad bite (malocclusion).

Treatment

Neuromuscular Dentistry serves to correct the bite and realign 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.

Malocclusion is relatively easy to correct. Treatment options include adjusting the bite, orthotics, orthodontics, or restoring the teeth to their correct positions.

Portland Neuromuscular Dentist Benefits

Patients of neuromuscular dentistry experience a range of benefits from decreased or eliminated pain and discomfort to better overall health and longer-lasting dental restorations.

TMJ / TMD and Neuromuscular Dentistry

Neuromuscular Dentists can realign your bite and resolve your TMJ / TMD symptoms.When the teeth, facial muscles, and temporomandibular joints are out of alignment, the symptoms of what have been identified as TMJ / TMD (temporomandibular joint syndrome or dysfunction) arise..

If you are suffering from TMJ symptoms, know that you are not alone! Although the vast majority of North Americans suffer from TMJ, most do not relate their pain and/or symptoms to a bad bite. Many people with TMJ are not diagnosed as having TMJ and are not treated correctly as a result.

Dr Miller has spent many years attending post graduate classes in the care and treatment of TMD.

TMJ / TMD Diagnosis by Portland Neuromuscular Dentist

Neuromuscular Dentists can realign your bite and resolve your TMJ / TMD symptoms.Neuromuscular dentists use state-of-the-art technology to determine if your symptoms are caused by malocclusion and if so, what your optimal jaw position is. We will take mounted models to determine if your bite needs to be corrected by orthodontics, or by restoring teeth. Also, an arthrogram may be needed to determine if the jaw joints are damaged sufficiently that they will require surgical intervention in order to relieve pain and restore function. Additionally, x-rays of the jaw may be taken to help evaluate the condition and positioning of the joint.

Portland Neuromuscular Dentist provides TMJ / TMD Treatment

Once your neuromuscular dentist has diagnosed you with TMD, he or she can determine the best course of treatment for your specific needs.

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Dr James A Miller, Aesthetic Dentist - Providing cosmetic dentistry to the areas of Hillsboro and Portland, Oregon.