Has anyone ever visited a neuromuscular dentist? - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

mikealbritton · 11-18-2005, 03:29 PM

I'm wondering if anyone has ever visited a neuromuscular dentist before? After going through a few search engines, I came across a site dedicated to neuromuscular dentistry and how they have been able to help those who are affected with TMD & Tinnitus. I know that their is a direct correlation between the two diseases. I have found a neuro dentist within two hours of my home in GA and have set up an appointment with him for this coming Monday. I've seen just about every other kind of doctor on the planet for my condition, so I figured it couldn't hurt to see what they offer and if it may help.
The thing I miss more than anything is peaceful sleep. Because of the ringing I seem to never get a normal night of sleep anymore. I'm lucky if I sleep more than four hours at a time on any given night. The ringing is so intense. When I hold my mouth open and then use my jaw muscles to resist when attempting to close my mouth, the ringing intensifies? Has anyone else experienced this? Would love to hear back from someone. It's good to be able to speak to others who can understand.......

une_fille · 11-18-2005, 05:15 PM

Hey there- a fellow Georgian! I'm in Alpharetta, where are you?

I do not have tinnitus, but I did not think to consider a neuromuscular dentist for my TMJD. As I was just reading up about it, however, it seemed that my TMJ doctor does the same things as what I had read by the fact that he related the muscles to the joints to the teeth. He felt my muscles were constantly tensing because my bite was misaligned. So I had an occlusal adjustment along with a proper splint. I guess I don't really see the difference here between him and a nueromuscular dentist, except for the fact that he did not use TENS to relax the muscles. Instead, he put pressure on several areas of my jaw to determine whether it was muscular or not. Then he measured my bite by taking my molds and putting them into a jaw simulator to see exactly how my bite worked. I'm seeing him again next week and I'd be happy to ask him if he treats tinnitus or knows of anyone who does. Despite some grumblings I originally had about him, I've come to realize that he really an excellent TMJ doctor. He was recommended to me by a prominent doctor in Emory's dental circles. He is in Atlanta.

Joanne

mikealbritton · 11-19-2005, 03:10 AM

That would be excellent! When you say you are seeing a TMD doctor, what is their official title? I've seen a periodontist, but I don't think that is it?

une_fille · 11-19-2005, 05:37 AM

He used to be a dentist, then he retired, then he came out of retirement and now specifically treats TMJ patients (he's in his 50s I'm guessing). The group he is in consists of oral surgeons, but he is not a surgeon himself. His daughter had serious TMJ problems and eventually had to have surgery because she was in so much pain (she had the same problem as I do, though, I'm not in pain. And he is NOT a proponent of surgery, it was just the last resort for his daughter and the surgery was extremly successful). So I think that is why he chose to specifically focus on helping TMJ patients. And, since it happened to someone so close to him, he really understands the pain and problems of TMJ.

He works only 1, sometime 2 days a week (Wednesday, sometimes Thursday) and he doesn't take insurance. I've just been submitting claims myself. He's pricey, but inline with any other TMJ doctor. The good thing about him, too, is that if he can't help you he will tell you so.

I'm seeing him on Wednesday morning so I'll ask him about you and I'll post back.

newjerseyguy · 11-21-2005, 09:41 AM

I am also looking into a neuromuscular dentist. I found a site that explained alot of info. There is one doc here in jersey that is about 2 hours away from me. His website says, "cosmetic dentistry", but he has a very big section on neuromuscular dentistry. I would say though that any good oral surgeon who treats and knows about TMD, would probably know the same things. Regarding your ear ringing, I get ear ringing intermittently during the day for no apparent reason. I can actually make it happen if i tilt my head back and hold it. That sends my ears ringing. This tells me that somehow, the jaw and neck muscles are pretty much the cause. Why it happens, I don;t know, but it is definately all related in that muscular area. Let us know how your appointment with the neuro dentist goes.