We Care For You
OUR TREATMENT PROTOCOL
We provide comprehensive treatment to all of our patients.
We do not sell just an appliance, we provide treatment.
In many conditions, a special designed orthotic is necessary to retrain the compromised tissues. The lower anatomical orthotic (looks and fills like a night guard), we advocate, is a specialized dental appliance that is orthopedically designed to match the physiologic function of the patient’s jaw and head posture. This orthotic promotes tissue healing in much the same way as a cast allows a broken bone to heal.Constant stabilization of dysfunctional tissue systems results in restoring them to functional patterns. The metabolic abnormalities are eliminated and therefore the pain is relieved. Once these tissue systems are restored to normal functional patterns, there are several options available to the patient to maintain long term stability and pain relief.At this point, nothing permanent is done to alter your teeth or your bite. You would wear this appliance for a period of time to make sure the new bite position is correct before any consideration would be given to permanently altering your bite.
After initial examination, if it’s necessary, we will initiate physical therapy treatments. The focus of physical therapy for temporomandibular disorders is relaxation, stretching, and releasing tight muscles. Physical therapy is an especially important part of recovery from TM joint injury.
Oral Appliance Therapy
Oral Appliance Therapy, Your Solution & Treatment for TMJ/TMD and Headaches
Physical therapy techniques may include:
- Jaw exercises to strengthen muscles and improve flexibility and range of motion.
- Laser therapy to improve blood circulation in the jaw and eliminate inflammation.
- Massage to relieve overall muscle tension and to improve range of motion.
- Training to improve posture and correct jaw alignment.
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), which is the application of a mild electrical current to the skin over the jaw joint. This electrical current is thought to interfere with the body’s pain signals. TENS relaxes muscles, improves blood circulation, and relieves pain.
- Ultrasound therapy, which uses high-frequency sound waves directed to the TM joint, to reduce pain and swelling and improve circulation.
After having worn the provisional appliance for some time, we will know for sure, if the new bite position has resolved the problems. If it has, you will have several options open to you for long-term treatment.
Some of these options may include dental or orthodontic treatment to permanently alter your bite to the new position, or fabrication of a more permanent type of orthotic.
This physiologic – based treatment has allowed at least 80 % pain relief in 95% of the patients we have treated. The opportunity to experience life without headaches for most patients is priceless and is the result of new computerized technology and new treatment techniques we have been utilizing for over 10 years.