So, what’s neuromuscular dentistry?
Allow me to tell you a story. For years I felt that my jaws were too close to
one another, that my chin was too close to my nose; that I was “overclosed” –
despite having all my own teeth.
I had worn “flats” on my teeth – “ageing” I was told. I’d broken teeth and
fillings – “heavy bite”, my shoulders always ached – “job related” and I
frequently had migraine type headaches – “stress”. I saw several doctors,
dentists and orthodontists, “nothing wrong with you” I heard and yet I knew
something was amiss. It wasn’t until I met Dr. James Carlson in America who
altered the way I saw the mouth as part of the body, that I found the answer.
The upper jaw is part of the skull;
the lower jaw hangs loose in a cradle of muscles with a joint at the top. When
the muscles are at rest (not loose, but with “tone”) all is well and when bite
coincides with closure from this “comfortable” position all is well. If not
strains are set up in the muscles – try this: Sit up straight, let your jaw hang
loose, relax. Now allow it to float up, don’t close, just let it “float” up.
Where do your teeth touch first? Now squeeze them together, feel it?
-So what? Well it depends on the
individual. We can all accommodate to some changes in life, but some can adapt
better and to more than others.
Do you get headaches, jaw joint noise
or pain, ear congestion, limited opening, broken teeth or fillings, worn edges
on teeth, neck or shoulder pain?
You may benefit from advances in this
area. Neuromuscular dentistry is in harmony with the body, rather like
correcting the wheel alignment on your car.
-So what happened to me? My bite was restored using neuromuscular principles, my shoulder aches have diminished, my face looks younger, there is space to reline the tops of my teeth so they look original and I show more of my front teeth when I smile. Now if only it worked on my hair!
Dr Stephen J. Bray, BDS, DDS