TMJ and Neuromuscular Dentistry

Smile Makeover

Gray, Maine

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, or TMJ, is a condition that develops when the temporomandibular joint comes out of alignment. Neuromuscular dentistry is the aspect of dentistry that makes sure this joint does not come out of alignment and treats symptoms of TMJ.

The temporomandibular joint is the joint on either side of your head that connects your lower jaw to your skull. Different nerves, muscles, and other tissue surround this joint, and it allows your jaw to move forward, backward, up, down, and side-to-side. When this joint comes out of alignment, it causes painful symptoms to arise. These misalignment and the symptoms it produces are referred to as Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ)

For some people, their temporomandibular joint has never been in the correct position, for others, it has come out of alignment as a result of a traumatic experience, poor dental procedures, or a bad bite (malocclusion). When the temporomandibular joint comes out of alignment, it puts excess stress on all the nerves and muscles surrounding the joint, causing them to strain even you think your jaw is at rest.

As the muscles and nerves strain simply to rest your jaw, it causes many different symptoms, including:

TMJ causes all these symptoms because the muscles and nerves around the temporomandibular joint are forced to strain to do anything when the joint is out of alignment. When the muscles and nerves strain, they prevent blood flow to other muscles and nerves, causing pain, and many times, you attempt to correct the problems by grinding your teeth.

Neuromuscular dentistry makes sure that the temporomandibular joint is in its optimal position at all times. Not only will a neuromuscular dentist, like Dr. Beebe, correct your TMJ problems, but they will also make sure that any procedures you undergo will not affect your temporomandibular joint.

Neuromuscular dentistry is unique in that it is involved in all aspects of dentistry, making sure that your restorations or cosmetic dentistry procedures do not conflict with your bite or produce TMJ symptoms.

If you believe that you are suffering from TMJ symptoms and would like to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Beebe in his Gray, Maine cosmetic dentistry office, contact us today and come in to have your TMJ symptoms evaluated and diagnosed.

Contact Us

Maine Cosmetic Dentistry
207.657.3553
Gray Plaza 31 Portland Rd
Gray, ME 04039