Neuromuscular dentistry is an area of dentistry that focuses on how the muscles, jaw joints, and teeth work together and affect one another. Proper alignment of the teeth is crucial so they can function well with the joints of the jaw and muscles of the face, head, and neck. Advanced neuromuscular dentistry technology is utilized to get a clear picture of how the muscles, joints, and teeth are currently functioning; neuromuscular orthodontics in Anchorage will correct any misalignment issues and get all parts of the teeth, joints, and muscles working together beautifully.

Neuromuscular dentistry in Anchorage will realign your bite to ease the painful symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ/TMD), and neuromuscular orthodontics will gradually align your bite to its optimal position. Both children and adults are great candidates for neuromuscular orthodontics because the technology allows Anchorage dentists to see the future growth patterns in children and treat them accordingly.

Symptoms that Lead to Neuromuscular Orthodontic Treatment

If you suffer from any of the symptoms of TMD, you may be a good candidate for neuromuscular orthodontics:

  • Tightness in the jaw
  • Pain in the jaw
  • Neck pain
  • Shoulder pain
  • Headache
  • Daytime fatigue
  • Insomnia
  • Clicking/popping noises in the jaw
  • Locking of the jaw
  • Ear fullness
  • Locking of the jaw

If you’re diagnosed with TMJ or sleep apnea in Anchorage, your neuromuscular dentist will discuss treatment methods to correct the malocclusion (misaligned bite) and get your joints, muscles, and teeth working together the way they should. Worn teeth, cracked teeth, grinding of the teeth at night, and similar issues can certainly lead to disorders of the temporomandibular joints and cause any number of the above symptoms. 

What to Expect With Neuromuscular Orthodontics

A smile assessment is performed to provide the Anchorage neuromuscular dentist insight into where your alignment problems lie. If any problems are discovered, your dentist will recommend neuromuscular orthodontic treatment. Two highly successful methods of orthodontic treatment include TENS and Myotronics. TENS stands for “transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation” and involves putting pads on the affected areas. The pads send tiny electric pulses to the treatment areas; the electric pulses relax the muscles in your jaw and face.

When the muscles are relaxed from the TENS treatment, your Anchorage neuromuscular dentist will use the Myotronics K7 Evaluation System to monitor the movements of your jaw. Sensors placed on your jaw track its real-time movements; the Myotronics system also picks up any cracking, clicking, or popping sounds your jaw makes.

With all of this valuable information documented, your neuromuscular dentist in Alaska will be able to develop a treatment plan to get your jaw to its optimal position. You may be a candidate for traditional braces, Invisalign® clear retainers, or even a full mouth reconstruction. You may just need an oral appliance to gradually realign your teeth. Every patient’s needs and goals are considered, which means that every single patient has a treatment plan custom-made for them.

What separates neuromuscular orthodontics from traditional orthodontics is that the former is able to map out a treatment plan based on what your mouth and jaw will look like in the future. Traditional braces are adjusted as the patient grows and teeth shift. Neuromuscular orthodontics, on the other hand, allows the dentist to see which direction your movement is heading and design the treatment plan based on that information. Neuromuscular orthodontics results in a beautiful smile but also allows the patient to live free of the painful symptoms that brought them to their dentist in the first place.

Why Is Proper Alignment So Important?

Malocclusion, problems with the tempormandibular joints, and sleep apnea can all lead to numerous medical problems, some of which can be life-threatening:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Insomnia
  • Impaired cognitive function
  • Fatigue
  • Mood swings
  • Heart disease
  • Hypertension
  • Diabetes
  • Headaches
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Tinnitus and other ear issues
  • Difficulty speaking, chewing and swallowing

It’s really quite amazing to think how important proper alignment of the teeth is to your overall health and wellbeing. Anchorage neuromuscular orthodontics has changed the lives of many Alaska residents, so please don’t wait another day for an assessment.

Get Relief with Neuromuscular Orthodontics in Anchorage, Alaska

You need not suffer from the painful symptoms of TMJ or sleep apnea any longer. Please call our neuromuscular dentistry office in Anchorage at (907) 277-1098 or use our online contact form to contact our dentist today.