NEUROMUSCULAR DENTISTRY
To understand Neuromuscular Dentistry (NMD), it helps to first know a few things about your occlusion or “bite”. Your occlusion is the way that your upper and lower teeth fit together. The muscles of your head and neck posture your jaw and hold the lower teeth close to the upper ones. You don’t consciously hold your jaw in this position “programmed” in your brain. Even though the present position “programmed” by your brain seems like it would be the optimal position, it is not always the best one for you.
Neuromuscular Dentistry (NMD) is a term applied to techniques that expand upon the more traditional approach to dentistry that is more mechanically oriented. NMD places the occlusion where the muscles that control jaw position are at their best for optimal function and comfort.
How Muscles Affect Your Occlusion
Your jaw posturing muscles may be overworked in attempting to maintain your present “programmed” position, even when you think they are relaxed. This condition can lead to a variety of problems including a less than ideal bite, muscle pain or dysfunction, or jaw joint problems. The Neuromuscular Dentist determines the jaw position that is associated with relaxed posturing muscles and adjusts or alters your occlusion (bite) to that position.
How the Muscles Are Relaxed
Because the muscles controlling the jaw are subconsciously “programmed” by the brain, most individuals have difficulty consciously reaching a truly relaxed state. To help your muscles reach that relaxed state, a device called the Myomonitor is used to deliver gentle electrical stimulation to your muscles.
Getting the Bite Right
Now that your muscles are relaxed, the Neuromuscular Dentist will confirm and record the relaxed position of your jaw by placing a fast setting putty-like material between your teeth. The doctor can now compare your usual occlusion (bite) with the relaxed jaw position to evaluate if your jaw is presently in a near optimal position and determine whether the occlusion should be adjusted.
Neuromuscular Analysis and Your Restorations
When you are restoring just one tooth or few teeth, the Dentist will restore that involved tooth (teeth) in your current bite or jaw position. When you are restoring your smile with porcelain veneers, the veneers will also be restored in your current bite or jaw position. However, the information from the neuromuscular analysis will often be used to create a custom neuromuscular occlusal guard that will assist in protecting your teeth and investment. When you are restoring the entire mouth (often termed “Full Mouth Restoration”), the Dentist will usually create the new restorations in a more “ideal” neuromuscular bite or jaw position.
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