• Cosmetic Dentistry
  • General vs. Cosmetic Dentistry
  • Choosing a cosmetic dentist
  • What is the LVI Difference?
  • Characteristics of Award Winning Smiles
  • Cosmetic Procedures/
    Treatments
    • Smile Makeover
      • Questions About Smile Makeover
    • Porcelain Veneers
      • Question About Porcelain Veneers
      • The Dental Veneers Process
    • Full Mouth Restoration
      • Questions About Full Mouth Restoration
    • Tooth Whitening
      • Teeth Whitening Questions
      • Why Should A Dentist Whiten My Teeth?
    • Dental Implants
      • Questions About Dental Implants
      • Dental Implant Candidacy
      • Implants for Supporting Bridges
      • Advantages of Dental Implants
      • A Choice in Anesthesia for Your Dental Implant Surgery
    • Tooth Crowns
      • CEREC: One Day Crowns
      • Questions about Porcelain Crowns
    • Dental Bonding
    • Tooth-colored fillings
    • Porcelain fillings
    • Gum Recontouring
    • Invisalign®
  • Teeth and Aging
• Common Dental Problems
  • Why Do Teeth Darken?
  • Advanced Hygiene and Periotherapy
    • Velscope Oral Cancer Screening
  • Fixing Tooth Decay
• General Dentistry
  • Dental Hygiene Appointments
  • Dental Bridges
  • Dentures / Partials
    • Questions About Dentures
  • What's right for you? Partials vs. Implants
  • Periodontics
  • Preventative Dentistry
  • A Look Back at Dentistry's History
• TMJ / TMD
  • Causes of TMD/TMJ Associated Headaches
  • Neuromuscular Dentistry
  • Questions About Neuromuscular Dentistry
  • Why See a Neuromuscular Dentist?
  • TMJ Treatment Options
  • TMJ and Facial and Neck Pain
• Sleep Apnea
• Metal-Free Dental Practice
• Sedation Dentistry
  • Types of Dental Anesthesia

Neuromuscular Dentistry Questions

Bernardsville and Morristown, NJ areas

What is neuromuscular dentistry?

Neuromuscular dentistry is the specialty of dentistry that focuses on the harmony between your jaw and the alignment of your bite. With a healthy bite, there is a working relationship between your facial muscles, jaw joint and teeth. If any one part does not function correctly, your bite can become misaligned (called a malocclusion). When this happens, the muscles in your jaw and the joint itself are overworked and strained when aligning your teeth to bite and chew. If this problem continues, it can lead to problems like temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).

How can I tell if my bite is misaligned?

Diagnostic tests such as jaw measurements, computer imaging and modeling of your bite and X-rays of your jaw structure can indicate if there is a problem. Symptoms are also an effective way to recognize if you may have a misaligned bite. If you experience any of the following, please call Aesthetic Dentistry of Bernardsville to schedule a consultation.

• Jaw popping
• Headaches or dizziness
• Unexplained neck pain, facial or shoulder pain
• Damaged fillings or other dental restorations
• Ringing in your ears
• Crowed, sensitive or loose teeth
• Grinding of your teeth
• Loss of feeling in your arms
• Receding gums

How can my bite become misaligned?

Your jaw may become misaligned for many reasons. Maybe you suffered a blow to the head from a sport or accident, which knocked your joint out of position. Genetic and developmental factors can also cause misalignment, as can tooth grinding over a period of time. Misaligned teeth can also gradually lead to this condition, since your jaw muscles are struggling to bring your upper and lower teeth together every time you close your mouth.

What are my treatment options?

Once you have been diagnosed with TMD, Dr. Patti Swaintek-Lamb and Dr. Cheryl Tauriello will work with you to determine your best course of treatment. Typically treatment will follow three steps:

• Relieve pain and muscle spasms: The primary concern for neuromuscular dentists is to provide pain relief. One of the best ways is with the TENS machine, which relaxes your muscles through gentle massage. The rhythmic pulsing increases blood flow, pumps out waste products and stimulates your body’s production of endorphins; a natural anesthetic.
• Stabilize your bite: This can be done by wearing plastic dental orthotic worn over your teeth to stabilize your bite.
• Long-term management: This can be done through orthodontics like Invisalign®, or a full mouth restoration to restore each tooth.
• For more information, please see TMJ Treatment Options.

If you live in the Morristown, New Jersey area, and you are suffering from a misaligned bite, please contact Aesthetic Dentistry of Bernardsville today. Dr. Patti Swaintek-Lamb and Dr. Cheryl Tauriello move your bite into its correct position and alleviate you pain. Please contact our dental team today to schedule your consultation. We look helping you achieve a pain-free lifestyle.