Philadelphia Neuromuscular Dentistry tackles both pain and cosmetic issues
Ronald Konig
Special to Houston Business Journal
Symptoms such as sensitive teeth, headaches experienced on a regular basis, chewing difficulties and worn-down teeth can be caused by many factors. Often, they are blamed on stress.
However, many people experience sensitivity, headaches, grinding and wear due to the way their teeth meet together. Most people do not realize that their bite can be a primary cause of pain and dysfunction of the head and neck as well as the reason for broken and sensitive teeth.
Philadelphia Neuromuscular Dentistry Pinpoints The Problem
TMJ is a term often used to describe this condition -- a chronic illness that affects 40 million people at any one time.
The temporo-mandibular joint is where the mandible (the lower jaw) joins the temporal bone of the skull, immediately in front of the ear on each side of the head. A small disc of cartilage separates the bones so that the mandible may slide easily when a person chews or talks.
Headaches from TMJ may result in lost days on the job per month and an employee working at half their productivity level. This could lead to the chronic use of various medications and their side effects plus the health care cost associated with it.
Unfortunately, many people have cosmetic dentistry completed without knowing that it is possible to solve this problem at the same time.
Generally speaking, the symptoms often are caused by the bite straining the muscles that are attached to the head and neck. Additional symptoms can be pain or pressure in and about the eyes, sinus problems, facial pain, pain in and around the jaw, stiffness or soreness in the neck and shoulder, vertigo, grinding and clenching the teeth, cracking, chipping teeth, unexplained loose teeth and the constant breaking of completed dental care.
Until recently, dentistry has largely been based on the assumption that wherever a person's bite naturally occurred (habitual bite), was the correct position. But why would a person want to restore his teeth to the same position or posture
that caused him problems in the first place?
Some of these problems start as teeth become uneven and worn from use, clenching or improper development. The muscles in the head and jaw must compensate for the teeth to meet together for speaking and chewing. Constant stress on these muscles will cause problems to persist and worsen over time. However, in many cases there is no wear present on the teeth.
Philadelphia Neuromuscular Dentistry - The remedy
Neuromuscular dentistry is the remedy. It is the art and science of using the relaxed position of the muscles of the head and neck to place the jaw in an optimal physiologic position for health and function. There is no invasive surgery involved.
The treatment involves the use of sophisticated computerized technology to measure and study the pattern of the jaw opening and closing through its full range of motion and in three dimensions. The measurement of muscle activity, analysis of TMJ sounds and jaw tracking allow for an accurate diagnosis of the patient's ideal jaw position so that appropriate corrective measures can be taken.
The tests are non-invasive; there are no injections and no pain. Both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the American Dental Association have approved the device used for the testing.
Dr David Kaffey - Providing services in cosmetic and neuromuscular dentistry and tmj treatment to the areas of Malvern, Wayne, West Chester, King of Prussia, Exton, Devon, Villa Nova, Newtown Square, Berwyn, Radnor, St. Davids, Valley Forge, Main Line, Paoli and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Main Line Cosmetic Dentist
12 South Valley Road Paoli, PA 19301 | Ph. 866.930.1921
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