Houston Dentist Dr. Wolfson Dental Services
TMJ: Frequently Asked Questions
Who is affected?
Temporomandibular joint disease (also known as TMD or TMJ) affects 75 million people at any one time. It is a chronic degenerative disease that may take years to develop. People who suffer from TMD have a structural imbalance in their jaw-to-skull relationship, caused by a bad bite. This disease causes the following:
- Alteration of the position of the temporomandibular joint by placing excessive pressure on the joint and tissues around them.
- Twisting the jaw into a strained position. This further affects the muscles in the face, back, neck and shoulders.
What are the symptoms?
You may be a candidate for neuromuscular dentistry if you experience any of the following symptoms on a regular basis:
- Headaches or migraines
- Unexplained loose teeth
- Worn, chipped or cracked teeth
- Cracking, chipping or breaking dental restorations
- Pain or soreness around the jaw joints
- Pain in teeth that seems to move around
- Neck, shoulder or back pain
- Facial pain
- Clicking or grating sounds in the jaw joints
- Limited movement or locking jaw
- Numbness in your fingers and arms
- Congestion or stuffiness of the ears
How can you help me?
Dr. Wolfson is well trained and highly capable of treating the neuromuscular symptoms of a patient with a poor bite (malocclusion). Following a comprehensive examination, he may diagnose malocclusion and recommend a treatment plan that will correct your bite and alleviate pain and discomfort.
To correct this malocclusion, Dr. Wolfson may recommend the use of dental restorations that can precisely raise or lower areas of your bite to create a naturally comfortable position for your jaw. Dr. Wolfson's office currently uses an electrical muscle stimulator that exercises your facial and jaw muscles, to find your most relaxed state. In most cases, they can reposition your jaw without surgery or braces, and complete the treatment in a few short weeks.
How will I look following the treatment?
We find that many patients experience a moderate to significant change in their facial appearance following completion of the treatment. Patients with recessed lower jaws may have a new profile, accenting a stronger jaw line and chin. Areas of the jaw that may have protruded excessively will be pulled back in alignment. In addition, all of the restorations necessary to correct the bite will be created with consideration to the aesthetic result of the smile. Not only will this procedure correct pain, it will give patients the smile they have always dreamed about.
Houston cosmetic dentist Dr. Steven Wolfson, DDS of The Tanglewood Center for Aesthetic Dentistry provides exquisite, world-class esthetic, reconstructive, and implant dentistry.
