Neuromuscular Dentistry

Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades & Brentwood, CA Dentist

The alignment of your teeth and jaw not only impact your appearance, but they can also affect how you feel.

When your teeth are poorly spaced and your jaw is not properly aligned, the interior network of nerves, muscles, joints, tendons and bones is forced to overcompensate. This creates additional stress that can cause painful symptoms throughout your body and lead to the condition known as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ or TMD).

Santa Monica dentist Dr. Ana Brightleaf has extensive experience in the field of neuromuscular dentistry, which focuses on the complex connective region between the jaw and skull as well as the diagnosis and treatment of TMJ/TMD.

Those who suffer from TMJ/TMD typically suffer from multiple symptoms, which may include:

• Migraine-like headaches
• Neck, shoulder and facial pain
• Ringing ears/tinnitus
• Clicking or popping of the jaw
• Locking or sticking of the jaw
• Numbness or tingling in the hands and fingers
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing

There are a number of TMJ/TMD treatment options available, depending on the specifics of your condition. Some patients may require oral appliances designed to bring the jaw into a comfortable resting position, others may benefit from the use of transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation (TENS) therapy.

Using advanced technology and the principles of neuromuscular dentistry, Dr. Brightleaf can assess the source of your TMJ/TMD and recommend the best treatment option for your unique needs.

If you would like to learn more about the diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular joint disorder, please contact Brightleaf Cosmetic & Holistic Dentistry to schedule your consultation with Santa Monica neuromuscular dentist Dr. Ana Brightleaf.