Why Visit a Neuromuscular Dentist?
Hannibal, Missouri and surrounding area
Pain in the face, jaw, and neck is often attributed to our daily stressful lives. Symptoms like neck pain or severe headaches are usually misdiagnosed by doctors and treated with pain medications. Pain medications will offer temporary relief from the pain, but they do not cure the cause of the pain.
Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) causes pain in the face, jaw, and neck. Missouri neuromuscular dentist Dr. Janes is trained and experienced in diagnosing and treating TMD. Some of the symptoms experienced with TMD include:
- Migraine-like headaches
- Popping or clicking of the jaw
- Dizziness
- Ringing in the ears
- Grinding of the teeth
- Irritability or depression
- Soreness and pain in the jaw
- Pain in the neck, shoulders, and back
What is Neuromuscular Dentistry?
Neuromuscular dentistry is the branch of dentistry that focuses on the alignment of the jaw. Any of the symptoms of TMD can be caused by the misalignment of the jaw and the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ). The TMJ is the joint that connects your lower jaw to your skull and allows for the full range of motion of the jaw. This joint can become misaligned and cause debilitating pain.
Why Visit a Neuromuscular Dentist?
A neuromuscular dentist like Dr. Janes is trained to assess your jaw’s alignment and movement. A neuromuscular dentist is the only person qualified to properly treat the cause of your TMD. If only the pain associated with your TMD is treated, the pain will continue to return and not be completely corrected. A neuromuscular dentist will treat the cause of your pain so you will not suffer from it any longer.
There are several treatment options for TMD and the one that is right for you depends on the cause and severity of your TMD. The symptoms of TMD are reversible and may not be permanent if treated. There are many non-surgical and surgical options for treating TMD.
Some of the non-surgical treatments for TMD are:
- Using cold and hot packs on the jaw
- Wearing an oral appliance
- Having physical jaw therapy
- Eating soft foods
Severe deterioration of the jaw or surrounding tissue will require surgery or injections. This type of TMD is rare and the treatments are only used when other TMD treatments have not worked.
If you live in the Hannibal area and believe you suffer from TMD, please contact our neuromuscular dentistry office to schedule a consultation with Dr. Charles Janes.
Charles W. Janes, D.D.S.
Functional Cosmetic Dentistry & Full Mouth Rehabilitation
"Designing Smiles, Enhancing Life"
501 Clinic Rd., Hannibal, Missouri 63401
573.221.3360
