TMD Treatment

Temporomandibular disorder, or TMD, is a condition in which the joint that connects the upper and lower jaws becomes misaligned. This can cause a wide range of symptoms, depending on the type and severity of the disorder. According to the TMJ association, over 10 million Americans suffer from the condition.

TMD Symptoms

Neuromuscular dentistry can help alleviate symptoms such as headaches, neck and shoulder pain, jaw pain, clicking or popping in the jaw, and ringing in the ears. The majority of Americans suffer from one or more of these symptoms, and unfortunately in many cases these patients' symptoms are either misdiagnosed or dismissed as having no physiological cause. In a number of cases, these symptoms can actually be attributed to TMJ (temporomandibular joint syndrome). Common symptoms include:

Headaches/Migraines
Tooth grinding, or bruxism, frequently during sleep
Excess tooth wear
Facial pain
Neck and shoulder pain
Ringing or congestion in the ears
Difficulty swallowing & or chewing
Dizziness
Unexplained loose or shifting teeth
Hot & cold sensitivity of teeth
Soreness and discomfort in the jaw area
Limited mouth opening or locking jaw
Numbness in the fingers and arms
Noise or clicking in the jaw joints
Depression

Dr. Ryan Reeves is specially trained in neuromuscular dentistry so he can effectively treat the causes TMD and TMJ to relieve you of your painful symptoms. If you have questions concerning your health in regard to any TMJ/Jaw/Joint/Headaches, please contact us today to arrange a consultation.

TMD Treatments

Provisional (temporary) Treatment: We do not want to do anything permanently affecting your bite until it is proven that making this change will resolve your problem. An orthotic is prescribed to provide relief from pain and provide better function. An orthotic is a removable plastic appliance, usually worn over the lower teeth, precisely made to fit the contours of your teeth. This appliance maintains the new, neuromuscularly dictated bite position that was determined in the diagnostic process. It is not uncommon for TMD sufferers to experience dramatic relief of symptoms soon after receiving an orthotic. This plastic appliance is typically worn for up to three months to prove that this new jaw positions solves or significantly reduces the condition. This is a very conservative approach to dealing with your problem.

Permanent Treatment: Once major relief has been established for a period of time, the orthotic has proven that the imperfect bite is the cause of the problem and you may elect to go on and have your natural teeth treated to permanently maintain that new bite position. Treatment will be customized depending on your particular condition. This may include reconstruction (crowning) of teeth or orthodontics to permanently alter your bite. The primary objective of treatment is to relieve pain or dysfunction; we can also improve the beauty of your smile at the same time.

Depending on the type and severity of your TMD, we may recommend one or more of the following treatments:

Nightguards, to realign your jaw and prevent nighttime tooth grinding
Restorative dental work to correct damage to teeth
Repairs of existing dental work causing imbalance and misalignment of your bite

TMD / TMJ Questions

What is TMD?
What are the symptoms?
What treatments are available?
What if I don’t get my TMD treated?
Why is it important to find a neuromuscular dentist?

Want to learn more?

Call 1-703-339-5090 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Ryan Reeves.

What is Neuromuscular Dentistry

Neuromuscular Dentistry is the art and science of dentistry that embodies accepted scientific principles of physiology, anatomy, form and function. NMD objectively evaluates the complex relationship between teeth, joints and the muscles in order to achieve an occlusion that is based on the optimal relationship between the lower jaw and the skull — Neuromuscular Occlusion. The goal of the Neuromuscular Dentist is to relax the muscles controlling jaw position to establish a true physiological rest position upon which treatment considerations are based. Neuromuscular dentistry focuses no only on the teeth, but the objective evaluation of the status and function of the jaw muscles and joints to achieve the optimal result.

Why is Neuromuscular Dentistry Important and Is There Scientific Support?

Occlusion is the foundation of dentistry. It is of key importance in the success of every major dental procedure. Occlusion is affected by a triad of factors — the teeth, the muscles and the temporomandibular joints. Traditional dentistry has focused on the teeth — what might be called "one-dimensional" dentistry. Neuromuscular Dentistry (NMD) is a term that has been applied to the additional consideration of the "second & third dimensions" — muscles and TM joints. The limited time in the dental curriculum makes it difficult enough for schools to prepare dentists to deal with the teeth. Muscles and joints typically get a cursory once-over. As dentists go into practice, it is not uncommon to hear them say that they have done procedures "by the book" and yet have less than satisfactory results. Or, that a case is so complex they refer the case out rather than treat it themselves.

Neuromuscular Dentists commonly report that taking muscle and joint status into consideration aids them in optimizing treatment, minimizing the times that they are "surprised" by less than ideal outcomes, and gives them the added insight needed to treat complex cases. There is a significant body of literature published over the past 35 years that supports the efficacy of neuromuscular dental principles.

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Dr. Edward A. Reeves, Dr. Robert E. Moffitt and Dr. Ryan M. Reeves - Providing services in cosmetic dentistry to the area of Washington DC and Lorton, Virginia (VA).