Neuromuscular Dentistry

Neuromuscular dentistry is an approach used by Dr. Hopkins that determines the proper resting position of the jaw and places the jaw in a position that allows for maximum harmony between the teeth, the muscles of the face and neck, and the temporomandibular joints. This approach is vastly different from the traditional approach where the dentist simply deals with the teeth and the gums. Proper resting jaw position and posture are often overlooked and many times not even seriously considered as part of the dental system.

If you suffer from any of the following symptoms, the neuromuscular approach could enhance your life by reducing or even eliminating these issues for you:

• Headaches
• Forward head posturing
• Neck, shoulder or back pain
• Facial pain
• Clicking or grating sounds in the jaw joints
• Limited movement or locking of jaw
• Numbness or tingling in your fingers and/ or down arms
• Congestion or a feeling of fullness in the ears
• Pain around or behind eyes
• Loose teeth
• Worn, chipping or cracked teeth or dental restorations
• Pain or soreness around the jaw joints
• Pain in teeth that seems to move around
• Continued pain after routine dental work

The majority of people have "bites" that are over-closed. This can lead to chronic muscle spasm and pain. When muscles are in continued spasm, blood flow and lymphatic drainage to the head and neck are reduced. This can result in necrosis (death) of associated teeth and bone structures, reduced resistance to infection, and reduced ability to recover from infection or injuries to the head and neck region. An over-closed bite can and also affect posture, head position and the entire vertebral column.

The remedy is to open the bite through various procedures such as splints, restorations or moving teeth with braces. In our office, the proper resting position is determined using TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), x-rays of the jaw joint and muscle testing. When the bite is opened, the lower jaw is positioned downward and forward from the over-closed position. This places the temporomandibular joints (the joint complex that attaches the lower jaw to the skull) in an unstrained position, allowing for a coordinated and balanced function between muscles, ligaments and bone involved when the jaw functions in opening, closing, chewing and swallowing.

The teeth are at the end of the lower jaw opposite from the joints. So it becomes obvious that if the joints are not stable and the associated muscles are in a constant state of disharmony, this will eventually impact the stability of the teeth and any dental work that is performed. All parts work together for the benefit of the harmonious function of the whole. To ignore this fact when restoring the teeth will have a negative impact on treatment outcomes. Dr. Hopkins has been trained in the neuromuscular approach recognizing that joints, muscles and nerves as well as the teeth are important parts of the dental system and of the entire body as well.