Beaufort, Bluffton, and Hilton Head SC
Neuromuscular dentistry focuses on jaw alignment when applying traditional dental techniques and treatments. Not only does a neuromuscular dentist treat your teeth and gums, like fillings, crowns, and tooth replacements, but they also consider how your teeth, jaw joints, and tongue and facial muscles work together when opening and closing your mouth. Also referred to as physiological dentistry, neuromuscular dentistry uses modern technological advancements to achieve occlusal (bite) balance when eating and while at rest, which is helpful for patients experiencing chronic pain or reduced jaw function.
What is neuromuscular dentistry?
The jaw joints, teeth, and facial muscles contribute to how your teeth come together when biting, and these components need to work together for comfort and proper function. If one of these components is implicated, the patient’s bite may become uncomfortable, causing pain in their teeth, jaw joints, head, neck, and sometimes shoulders or back. Instead of only treating teeth, neuromuscular dentistry addresses all dental concerns while considering how the treatment affects the three major components – the jaw joints, teeth, and facial muscles.
How could neuromuscular dentistry help you?
If you have an overbite, underbite, pain in your jaw joints, worn teeth, recurring chronic headaches, or other unexplained detail pain, a neuromuscular dentist in Beaufort could help you. These symptoms often relate to TMJ disorder, a disorder affecting jaw joint balance. You can still receive routine dental care from a neuromuscular dentist. However, treatments will be specific to your individualized dental needs, focusing on evenly distributing biting pressure across your teeth and jaw joints.
How neuromuscular dentistry relates to TMJ disorder
TMJ disorder directly relates to an uneven or unbalanced bite. It has to do with how your teeth come together when biting or when your mouth is closed and at rest. You might not feel that your bite is off, but an unbalanced bite can manifest symptoms of TMJ disorder, like tooth or jaw joint pain, headaches, and neck pain.
Traditional dentists focus on treating teeth and gums, with little to no emphasis on jaw joint alignment. This simply means that neuromuscular dentistry requires additional training and education beyond dental school. Therefore, a neuromuscular dentist is the best physician to diagnose and treat TMJ disorder. Dr. Chris Mohler, a neuromuscular dentist in Beaufort, received his training at the Las Vegas Institute, a post-graduate educational institution that focuses on neuromuscular dentistry. Also, Dr. Mohler undergoes more than 200 hours a year of continuing education to ensure he provides the best care possible for patients, especially those seeking care for TMJ disorder.
Neuromuscular Dentist in Beaufort, Bluffton, and Hilton Head, SC
If you have been searching for answers to your chronic oral, head, or facial pain, consider scheduling a consultation with one of the best neuromuscular dentists in Beaufort. Dr. Mohler has extensive training and education and utilizes leading-edge technology to diagnose and treat TMJ disorder and establish a comfortable yet functional bite for patients. To learn more or get started, schedule a consultation by calling Chris Mohler, DDS, at (843) 522-1442 or complete a Contact Form.