Neuromuscular Dentistry

in Virginia Beach, VA

Neuromuscular dentistry is a specialized field of dentistry that focuses on the function of the jaw and the alignment of your bite.

Why neuromuscular dentistry is important

Your jaw is a delicate and precisely tuned mechanism. The upper and lower jaws are fitted together by a joint on each side of the jaw. This joint, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) provides for the wide range of movement of the mouth. It allows for movement up and down, side to side, and back and forth.

Unfortunately, this joint can often become overstressed and misaligned due to any number of causes, including age, tooth wear, or poor dental work.

When the TMJ becomes misaligned, the resulting condition is referred to as Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, or TMD. This condition can cause pain, discomfort, tooth loss, migraine headaches, and a host of other symptoms if left untreated.

How neuromuscular dentistry can help

A trained neuromuscular dentist such as Dr. Folck can address these issues in two ways—through prevention and treatment.

Poor dental work is a common cause of TMD. Something as simple as a poorly aligned filling, crown, or porcelain veneer can disrupt the delicate balance of your bite and cause your TMJ to become misaligned. This in turn can lead to further problems, including excessive tooth wear and even tooth loss, which further exacerbates the TMD. Dr. Folck's training and experience in neuromuscular dentistry ensures that every procedure he performs will maintain the proper jaw function.

For those already suffering from TMD or related problems, Dr. Folck has a variety of treatment options available that can resolve or lessen the symptoms of TMD.

Frequently Asked TMD Questions

Get your personal evaluation

For your personal consultation with a credentialed neuromuscular dentist, call or email our Virginia Beach dental offices today. We'll schedule your examination and consultation with Dr. Folck right away.