What is neuromuscular dentistry?

Your bite (or occlusion) is simply the position of your jaw when your teeth are together. This seems like a fairly basic idea, but your occlusion is very important and can affect your health in many ways.

Until recently, most dentistry has been based on the assumption that wherever your bite was naturally (habitual or centric occlusion) was the correct position. Today, most dental treatments are still planned from the patient’s existing occlusion. Because the habitual jaw position may be a reasonably good position and because our body system is often adaptable to less than ideal circumstances, maybe of these procedures have acceptable results. However, these are also many times that treatment procedures carried out with “textbook” accuracy do not produce the result that is fully functional and comfortable.

The growing field of neuromuscular dentistry goes beyond using your habitual bite as the basis for planning treatment. Neuromuscular dentistry considers the entire system that controls the positioning and function of your jaw: teeth, muscles and joints. As a neuromuscular dentist, Dr. Steve Petryk, seeks to establish a harmonious relationship among your teeth, muscles and jaw joints, resulting in a jaw position that is called a neuromuscular occlusion. No matter what type of treatment you are considering, cosmetic or restorative, it is important that you understand the significance of getting your bite right and how that relates to function and comfort for years to come.

Headaches & Jaw Pain Therapy

Do you recognize the 7 warning signs of a Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD)?

• Pain in the face or neck area
• Pain in or around the ear or vertigo
• Stiffness in the jaw
• Difficulty chewing
• Headaches
• Clicking or popping sounds
• Teeth that don’t come together properly

Symptoms of TM joint (TMJ) dysfunction are so diverse that someone suffering from them may go undiagnosed for years. TMJ disorders can be caused by various kinds of trauma, motor vehicle accidents, a blow to the head, sports injuries, falls, missing teeth, crooked teeth or an improper bite, old or ill fitting dentures, poor posture, cradling a phone on the shoulder and playing certain musical instruments.

Call us today to request a complimentary consultation. Dr. Steve Petryk is a general dentist with advanced training in the non-surgical management of TMJ disorders. A complete dental examination, X-rays, and sometimes an MRI are usually necessary to help determine if there is any injury to the soft structures of a victim’s head or neck.