Cincinnati Dentist Uses Neuromuscular Dentistry To Treat TMJ

The lower jaw has rounded ends that glide in and out of the joint socket when talking, chewing or yawning.

Between five percent and 15 percent of people in the United States experience pain associated with TMJ disorders, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), part of the National Institutes of Health . Women are more likely than men to develop TMJ disorders.

In most cases, pain and discomfort associated with TMJ disorders can be treated through self-managed care or non-surgical treatments, said Dr. Mindy Munowitz, a dentist who specializes in neuromuscular and cosmetic dentistry in Cincinnati, Ohio. However, more severe cases may require further dental or surgical treatment.
 
Munowitz uses neuromuscular dentistry to treat patients suffering from TMJ. Neuromuscular dentistry places the jaw into its optimal position and relieves the symptoms associated with TMJ.

While traditional dentistry evaluates primarily the teeth, bones and gums, neuromuscular dentistry works with the hard tissues and the soft tissues, muscles and nerves, according to the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies Web site.

Typically, the treatment follows three steps. The first is to relieve the pain of muscle spasms and the overall discomfort of TMJ symptoms.

“Patients suffering from TMJ are looking for relief of the symptoms,” Munowitz said. “We are successful in doing this through non-surgical neuromuscular dentistry methods.”

The best way to do this is by using technology called Ultra Low Frequency Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation, or ULF-TENS. Simply put, this stimulation emits pulses to gently massage the jaw muscles and relax them. ULF-TENS relieves the pain by stimulating the body’s production of endorphins, the body’s natural anesthetic.

The next step is to stabilize the patient’s bite. This is accomplished using an orthotic, which is worn over the teeth.

“The orthotic allows me to make easy adjustments to the plastic without adjusting the teeth until the bite is stabilized,” Munowitz said.

Once symptoms are relieved and the bite has been stabilized, the dentist moves to the next step of permanently adjusting the bite to the correct position.

About Dr. Mindy Munowitz
Dr. Munowitz creates beautiful, healthy smiles through the practice of cosmetic, restorative and neuromuscular dentistry. Through the most state-of-the art dental techniques, Dr. Munowitz brings Greater Cincinnati smiles back to life through the expert application of veneers, bonding, Zoom!® whitening, dentures, dental implants, orthodontics, and TMJ relief. Her office is located at 9393 Cincinnati-Columbus Road (Route 42), West Chester, Ohio, 45069.

© 2007 Sinai Marketing and Dr. Mindy Munowitz. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Sinai Marketing is credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this article is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.
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