Dental Orthopedics — TMJ Treatment Baytown
Dental orthopedic devices can be used in both temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder treatment and orthodontics. Dental orthopedics focuses on changing the size, shape, and position of bones in the jaw and facial area. This helps to relieve TMJ pain by improving the physiological relationship between the upper and lower dental arches. Our Baytown practice, serving Greater Houston and other areas, provides TMJ disorder treatment with the benefit of the latest diagnostic capabilities and the most comprehensive range of procedures possible. As a leader in the field of TMJ disorder treatment, Dr. David R. Wooten has the necessary experience and expertise to help you find a solution to your TMJ pain. To schedule a thorough TMJ syndrome consultation, contact Dynamic Dental Solutions today.
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About Dental Orthopedic Treatment
At our Baytown, Texas practice serving the Greater Houston area and beyond, orthopedic treatment for TMJ disorder is provided through Advanced Lightwire Functional (ALF) and other appliances. Some of these appliances look and feel much like the retainers used in orthodontic treatment and are custom-designed to address each patient's specific needs.
The way a person's teeth fit together when a person bites down is a very important part of overall dental health. Orthopedic treatment is concerned with the musculoskeletal system and its effect on a person's bite. When teeth fit together improperly, muscle spasms and inflammation of the TMJ joint are sometimes the result. Muscle spasms can also lead to the grinding of teeth during sleep. Unfortunately, nighttime grinding can result in excessive wear and, in turn, an altered bite.
Custom-made dental appliances allow Dr. Wooten to reduce muscles spasms, foster a comfortable jaw position, and create the most optimal relationship between the boney structures of the jaw. Dr. Wooten uses detailed diagnostic information to create the correct neuromuscular-positioning appliances for each patient. These customized appliances offer relief from stress and pressure, guide the jaw bones and muscles into a more comfortable position, and facilitate changes to the jaw bones so that they may accommodate straight teeth that function ideally and remain stable for years to come.
Often, when teeth are crooked, it can be attributed to supporting bone structures that are underdeveloped or inappropriately related to adjacent or opposing bone. Through orthopedic orthodontics, Dr. Wooten addresses the size, shape, and position of the supporting bone prior to straightening the teeth. Using ALF and other custom orthopedic appliances, as well as orthodontic techniques for TMJ disorder treatment, we are able to help patients enjoy long-term TMJ health.
Posture, Spine Health, Back Pain and Other TMJ Considerations
Our bodies are designed to correct for misalignments. When a person's bite is crooked, the back, shoulders, hips, and virtually the entire body can be affected. Whether a misaligned bite is the result of genetics or wear, the body corrects for the resultant off-center gravitational pull by making adjustments to other parts of the body. This can lead to problems with posture, back and neck pain, and other conditions.
By changing the way the jaw moves and/or remodeling the shape of supporting bones through orthopedic appliances, proper balance can be restored to the body. Patients are often surprised to learn the many effects the dental system can have on overall health. Indeed, the health implications of dental development are incredibly wide-ranging. Through dental orthopedics, our dental professionals orchestrate the movement of the bones into optimal relationships with each other. The result is a degree of function and comfort that is otherwise impossible to achieve.
Saving Teeth and Preventing TMJ Pain
When teeth are found to be too crowded, traditional orthodontics has led dental professionals to remove permanent teeth. While the removal of teeth creates adequate space for remaining teeth, helping to straighten them, this practice can all-too-often lead to a caved-in look and a very poor facial profile, especially later in life. As a result of extraction orthodontics, patients also frequently experience undue pain and suffering from TMJ dysfunction symptoms. Through the use of ALF and other orthopedic appliances at our Baytown practice serving the Greater Houston area, TMJ disorder treatment can be provided while, at the same time, preventing orthodontic treatment that requires the removal of permanent teeth.
Learn More about TMJ Disorder Treatment at Our Practice Serving Baytown and Houston, Texas
Dr. David R. Wooten concentrates on providing the most current and effective TMJ disorder treatments. To schedule an appointment, simply contact our practice serving patients from Baytown, Houston, and other areas.
(866) 522-9338 - Email Us
"We help people to smile with both comfort and confidence"
Dr. David R. Wooten
1410 Cedar Bayou Rd, Baytown, TX 77520
