Kingston, TN
Inexplicable pains in your shoulders, neck, and head may result from your oral health. People who experience ringing ears, a sore jaw, and headaches that don’t respond to over-the-counter pain relievers, may suffer from an underlying condition called a temporomandibular joint disorder or TMD. In some cases, people visit their doctor or chiropractor for help, but no administered treatments work. A neuromuscular dentist is the most competent medical specialist to diagnose your condition and offer effective therapies. Our Kingston neuromuscular dentists at LakeView Dental Arts share why you should see a neuromuscular dentist when you have pain in your upper body, head, and jaw.
What is neuromuscular dentistry?
Neuromuscular dentistry focuses on your jaw structure and how your teeth fit together. With the help of neuromuscular dentistry, you may locate or reestablish your jaw’s natural, healthy posture. In addition, oral appliance therapy with customized mouthpieces, dental restorations, and orthodontics may help move teeth into optimal positions. After our neuromuscular dentists determine and treat the alignment issues, your symptoms should disappear.
Dentists who specialize in neuromuscular care get substantial extra education beyond that provided in the standard dental curriculum. Our neuromuscular dentists in Kingston attended the Las Vegas Institute (LVI), widely regarded as the country’s preeminent facility for advanced dentistry education. Through their time at LVI, both dentists became experts in leading-edge neuromuscular dentistry methods and the honor of providing them to patients. Additionally, the neuromuscular dentist’s postgraduate education allows them to provide general dentistry services. Many neuromuscular dentists also have extensive training in aesthetic dentistry.
How does a neuromuscular dentist diagnose and treat TMJ?
Our neuromuscular dentists in Kingston can diagnose and treat jaw dysfunction, rather than solely addressing the discomfort, to ensure that TMJ symptoms don’t return. Using state-of-the-art technology to measure your jaw and its performance, we can pinpoint the problem and address the condition. Our treatment begins with a TENS device, or “transcutaneous electrical neurostimulation.” The machine uses low-frequency electrical impulses to increase blood flow to the jaw, relaxing the muscles and flushing tissue toxins out. The TENS device is a sufficient treatment for mild to moderate TMJ cases.
When is the right time to see a neuromuscular dentist?
Early detection and intervention are best for oral care conditions and can prevent them from worsening or causing permanent damage. However, when TMJ dysfunction is severe or left untreated for an extended period, the patient may feel incapacitating pain or other symptoms that interfere with eating and sleeping, increased stress levels, and other aspects of everyday living.
Therefore, our Kingston neuromuscular dentists who offer TMJ treatment share below some typical warning signs that could indicate a necessary trip to the dentist.
- Worn-down teeth
- Chewing challenges
- Tinnitus or ringing in the ears
- Jaw or face pain caused by stress or tension
- Discomfort in one’s skull, spinal column, or lower back
- Popping or clicking noises with your mouth open and closed
- Headaches that are either migraines or have migraine-like symptoms
You should consult a neuromuscular dentist as soon as possible if you experience any of these symptoms. Our neuromuscular dentists in Kingston explain that the symptoms may intensify if the condition remains ignored and untreated. In severe or prolonged cases of TMD, vertigo, pinched nerves, misplaced vertebrae, or numbness in the limbs may arise.
Neuromuscular Dentists in Kingston, Tennessee
Approximately 10 million Americans suffer from temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), so you’re not alone. Unfortunately, many instances remain undetected or receive a misdiagnosis, as reported by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. To avoid that position, you should schedule a consultation with our Kingston neuromuscular dentists if you suffer from TMJ. Our team at LakeView Dental Arts understands the condition’s severity and will work with you so that you can have a pain-free life. To find out more about neuromuscular dentistry or schedule an appointment, please call us at (865) 376-9687 or contact us online.