newbie question - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

ryanpaus · 07-26-2003, 11:18 AM

Alright I have an appointment in 2 weeks with a dentist who graduated from the las vegas institute. I spoke with one of his receptionists for a while and his procedure seem to be what I'm looking for. She told me that to fit a splint for your jaw he would have to hook you up to some sort of machine that sends pulses into your jaw muscles and neck muscles to relax your jaw and find out where your natural bite is. My question is what is this procedure called and is it really necisary. My normal dentist doesnt do this and I was wondering if this is the only way you should have splints fitted for your mouth or should your dentist be able to do it without that machine?

totallyconfused · 07-26-2003, 11:46 AM

Hi Ryan,

Neuromuscular dentists, like your new dentist, use EMGs to record muscle activity and TENS therapy (the pulses to the relax the muscles). The TENS is supposed to allow the muscles to relax in order for the dentist to build the splint in a relaxed position. Not all dentists do it this way, but neuromuscular dentists do.

Hope this answers some of your questions. Good luck!
TC

DianeTMJ · 07-26-2003, 12:10 PM

Hello Ryan -
The difference between a regular dentist and nueromuscular dentist is the precision, the precisness of the fitting. They test all of your muscles, take many bite registrations and create a splint for you. Sure has helped me. You may want to do some research on nueromuscular dentistry.
later
Diane