Health Implications Baytown, Houston
Dr. Wooten Offers Arch Development Dentistry
Dental development can have wide-ranging implications for an individual's physical and psychological well-being. Malocclusion — faults in the way the upper and lower teeth meet — and the jaw's placement when it is at rest can, in some cases, account for diseases and conditions seemingly unrelated to dentistry. Research has linked dental distress to chronic symptoms throughout the body, including scoliosis and other spine conditions; uneven head, shoulder, and pelvic positioning; reduced blood supply, sometimes causing chronic skin conditions; asthma; constipation; PMS; headaches and dizziness; hearing loss; depression and other psychological effects; and a host of other chronic conditions. At our practice serving patients from the Baytown and Houston areas, Dr. David R. Wooten provides dental arch development dentistry, Cranial-Mandibular-Cervical (CMC) orthotics, Advanced Lightwire Function (ALF) appliances, and adult orthodontics to correct distortions of the skull and the bone structures supporting the upper teeth and to bring the teeth into alignment.
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Proper dental treatment has been shown to quickly and effectively alleviate many chronic conditions. All too often, physicians have written off these previously unexplained conditions as psychological in nature. Thanks to research uncovering what has been termed the Dental Distress Syndrome, the root cause of many types of chronic pain can be addressed by realigning the jaw and teeth and restoring proper musculature balances and neurologic signaling for proper physiology.
How Dental Health Influences Overall Health
The jaw is a complex instrument controlled by no less than 136 different muscles. Many people are surprised to learn that these muscles determine not only jaw placement, but also the position of the head, neck, and shoulders. Referred pain is pain that occurs at a point removed from its source, which is the case when dental issues bring about pain elsewhere in the body.
Many individuals would never imagine that their pain could be caused by dental problems. Unfortunately, improper dental alignment can result in neuromuscular imbalances in those systems responsible for breathing, swallowing, and chewing. These neuromuscular systems are all dependent on one another; an imbalance can have a profound effect on all these systems. This, in turn, causes improper neural impulses to be continuously sent to the brain, which results in uncontrolled muscle contractions within the jaw. Many people attribute these contractions to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome; however, TMJ syndrome is merely one of the results of these dental imbalances. The key to treatment lies in the dentist's ability to treat the root cause.
To make matters worse, this malfunctioning musculature in the jaw is responsible for stress throughout the body. The misaligned jaw can create neck, head, and shoulder malposturing, pelvic rotation, and uneven leg length. These dysfunctions within the body cause additional improper neural messages to be sent to the brain and, as a result, biochemical and physiological changes occur which are detrimental to one's health.
Approximately half of the brain is dedicated to the area around the mouth and face. When faulty neurologic signals are sent from this area as a result of improper dental alignment, the brain eventually learns to respond to these incorrect signals in an inappropriate way. This results in improper messages being sent to the rest of the body. Gradually, diseases present themselves as a result. Only by correcting the alignment of dental structures can the signals be corrected and pain relieved throughout the body.
Treating Chronic Conditions
To help treat improper dental alignment and the chronic pain it can cause, Dr. Wooten and his staff serving the Baytown and Houston areas of Texas use Advanced Lightwire Function appliances. This unique arch development dental technique is sometimes used in conjunction with adult orthodontics to help restore correct muscular function and bring the teeth and jaw into proper alignment. Advanced Lightwire Functional appliances help correct distortions and strains within the bones of the skull that support the teeth. These corrections can lead to the reversal of physical and physiological conditions that have persisted for years.
Contact the Practice of David R. Wooten, DDS
We are here to educate our patients about the wide-ranging effects of dental misalignment and help them determine the cause of their chronic pain or other health conditions. If you would like to learn more about the use of Advanced Lightwire Functional appliances and adult orthodontics in arch development dentistry, contact our Baytown practice serving the entire Houston area today.
(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
