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Cosmetic Dentistry for San AntonioDr. Craig Carlson & Dr. Yana Monarres 400 North Loop 1604 East 210-499-4949
We Create Dream Smiles That Change Lives!
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Treatment of TMJ Pain & Headaches
Cause Finding the cause is the first step.
EMG A cardiologist checks for heart disease with an EKG. It is a computer that measures electrical activity of the heart muscle. A similar computer, an EMG or electromyograph, can be used to measure muscle activity in the head and neck. Another computer can track your jaw position. With this technology the jaw position where the muscles are most relaxed can be determined. The scientific data from this analysis can determine the cause and proper treatment for each individual.
This is a major breakthrough in TMJ and migraine headache therapy because of these precise computerized measurements. In the past, dentists realized the bite was the problem but didn't know where the bite should be. Making a treatment mouthpiece at a less than perfect position rarely helped. This jaw tracking device can determine the muscle activity at any jaw position. This shows at what jaw position the muscles are most relaxed.
Pain Relief - Neuromuscular Treatment A mouthpiece (dental orthotic) made with the aid of the computer to the relaxed muscle positions is called a neuromuscular orthotic. When the pain goes away with this mouthpiece, one knows with certainty that the jaw position was causing the problem. The orthotic stops the pain by guiding the jaw to the proper position, and returns the muscles and joints to a stable, relaxed and comfortable position.
Computer Scan A typical scan results in a chart of diagnostic information showing the best jaw position for the muscles.
Permanent Correction After use of the orthotic and relief from the symptoms, a bite correction is usually needed to permanently restore the teeth and joints to optimum health. This may be done with contouring of the enamel, or with orthodontics or with crowns and veneers depending on the situation.
The South Texas Center for Cosmetic Dentistry |
