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Neuromuscular Dentistry
Do you have jaw pain, headaches, dizziness, migraines, difficulty chewing, loose teeth, "clicking" or "popping" of your jaw, tinnitus (ringing in your ears), vertigo (dizziness), or insomnia? These are some of the symptoms that may indicate that you have a TMJ disorder, which occurs from misalignment of your teeth and the muscles that control the temporomandibular joint. When your TM joints are out of sync, muscle fatigue occurs, which produces painful symptoms. As an LVI-dentist, Dr. Blickenstaff will evaluate you, so that he can stop the TMJ disorder, prevent further damage to the TM joint, and remedy any underlying bite malfunction.
Many patients don't realize that muscles play an important role in dentistry. As a neuromuscular dentist, Dr. Blickenstaff focuses on creating harmony between your teeth and your muscles. Neuromuscular dentistry is more than simply making the top teeth align with the bottom teeth. It takes into consideration the role of the muscles that control chewing, swallowing, and jaw positioning. Everyone has a neuromuscular jaw position, which maximizes oxygen intake, tooth function, and patient comfort. Traditional dentistry assumes that your current bite, or occlusion, works fine for you, and this dental approach generally aims to return your bite to that position.
It is important to locate your neuromuscular bite to ensure your whole chewing system functions properly. To find this bite, we use sophisticated technology including an EMG (elctromyocardiogram), a muscle relaxation device called a Tensing unit, and a jaw-tracking device. Using this computerized equipment, Dr. Blickenstaff measures and studies the pattern of your jaw opening and closing through its full range of motion to diagnose any Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMD). Rather than relying on your present jaw position or any other arbitrary jaw position as right for you, Dr. Blickenstaff uses the computer information, as well as his years as an LVI-dentist, to determine whether your jaw position should be left alone or adjusted to a better position.
Once your neuromuscular bite has been identified, there are several ways in which Dr Blickenstaff can maintain it's position. Some patients need only simple bite adjustments (coronalplasty), while others may be looking at orthodontia (braces), crowns or veneers on some of their teeth, or even a full mouth reconstruction. It is only after a detailed diagnosis is made that the type of treatment needed can be determined.
Invest in your future. Call our Portland, OR dental office and schedule a visit with Dr. Blickenstaff to discuss the benefits of neuromuscular dentistry, including TMJ therapy. Our LVI-dentist's office serves patients from Portland, Beaverton, Cedar Mill, and the surrounding areas.
