Neuromuscular Dentistry

by Katy Dentist Dr. Brad Barker

Neuromuscular dentistry expands its reach beyond your teeth, to your total health. This area of dentistry focuses on bringing the jaw into a relaxed position to help alleviate years of pain and discomfort caused by TMJ disorder.

Temporomandibular joint disease (also known as TMJ or TMD) affects 75 million people at any one time. It is a chronic degenerative disease that may take years to develop. People who suffer from TMJ have a structural imbalance in their jaw-to-skull relationship, caused by a poorly aligned bite. This disease causes:

Excessive pressure to be placed on the temporomandibular joint and surrounding tissues, causing the joint to alter its normal, healthy position, causing the jaw to twist into a strained position, further affecting the muscles in the face, back, neck and shoulders.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of TMJ disorder may include, but are not limited to:

• Headaches or migraines
• Unexplained loose teeth
• Worn, chipped or cracked teeth
• Cracked, chipped or broken dental restorations
• Pain or soreness around the jaw joints
• Pain in teeth that seems to move around
• Neck, shoulder or back pain
• Facial pain
• Clicking or grating sounds in the jaw joints
• Limited movement or locking jaw
• Numbness in your fingers and arms
• Congestion or stuffiness of the ears

How Dr. Barker Can Help You

Following a comprehensive examination, Dr. Barker may diagnose malocclusion and recommend a treatment plan that will correct your bite and alleviate pain and discomfort. Treatment plans include the use of a dental orthotic to gently shift the position of your teeth, or the use of dental restorations. Placed on one tooth, several teeth or every tooth, these restorations will precisely level areas of your bite to create a naturally comfortable position for your jaw.

Don't live any longer with pain and discomfort. Call for a consultation at Barker Aesthetic Dentistry and let us show you the solution.

Neuromuscular dentistry is helping our patient to live pain free... at the office of LVI-trained Houston cosmetic dentist Dr. Brad Barker; serving the communities of Katy, Sugar Land and the greater Houston, Texas area.