TMJ Therapy / Headache Treatment
Do you experience migraine headaches? Maybe your jaw clicks when you chew or speak. These are symptoms of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, a condition that affects 10 million Americans at any given time. As a graduate of LVI and a practitioner of neuromuscular dentistry, Dr. Shapiro offers comprehensive, non-surgical therapies to treat this common disorder.
Your TMJ joints reside in front of your ears and enable smooth, pain-free jaw motion. Emotional and physical stress, trauma, and other factors can impair function and cause a variety of symptoms, including:
- Chronic headaches, including migraines
- Jaw clicking/popping
- Inability to fully open or close your mouth
- Tingling in the fingers
- Unexplained facial, neck, shoulder, or jaw pain
- Bruxism (teeth grinding)
The Neuromuscular Approach
Dr. Shapiro uses the principles of neuromuscular dentistry to evaluate TMJ function and determine appropriate treatment. Neuromuscular dentistry takes into account not just teeth, but your smile’s entire support system. Each element must work in harmony to ensure optimal health and comfortable function.
Your TMJ Assessment
We’ll use modern technology to pinpoint the source of your discomfort. Our Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation (TENS) unit transmits small electrical pulses to relax jaw muscles and let them settle into their ideal positions. Then a K-7 computerized mandibular scanning machine records jaw alignment and creates 3D models of teeth. The K-7 also alerts Dr. Shapiro to muscle activity of the resting jaw as well as jaw joint damage, if any.
Customized TMJ Therapy
Dr. Shapiro will use his findings to determine the appropriate treatment for your unique case. Many patients find relief from migraine headaches, jaw-clicking, and other TMJ symptoms with a custom orthotic. This comfortable, easy-to-use oral appliance eases stressed muscles to encourage proper jaw alignment. Other treatment options include building up the surface of the back teeth to correct bite misalignment, stress management tips, and suggestions for lifestyle changes.
For more information about neuromuscular dentistry visit http://www.leadingdentists.com/.
Experience whole-mouth health and a lifetime of beautiful smiles. Call today to schedule your appointment with Dr. Shapiro. Our Charlotte dental office serves Lake Norman, Concord, Pineville, Matthews, and surrounding areas.