Temporomandibular Disorders – the Role of Neuromuscular Dentistry

Masticatory system function disorders, known as temporomandibular disorders (TMD) represent frequently encountered problem in daily practice. Clinicians generally agree that psychosocial factors (stress), trauma (macrotrauma any sudden force to the joint resulting in structural alteration, or microtrauma functional overloading associated with muscular hyperactivity (bruxism) or occlusal instability), and occlusal conditions have the important role in the onset of TMD. Neuromuscular dentistry is modern approach in diagnosis and treatment of TMD. It objectively evaluates the complex relationship between teeth, masticatory muscles, temporomandibular joints and cranial nerves in order to achieve an occlusion that is based on the optimal relationship between the mandible and the skull – a neuromuscular occlusion. Neuromuscular dentistry uses computerized instrumentation to measure the patient’s jaw movements via Computerized Mandibular Scanning (CMS) or Jaw Motion Analysis (JMA), muscle activity via electromyography (EMG) and temporomandibular joint sounds via Electro-Sonography (ESG) or Joint Vibration Analysis (JVA). The fact is, however, that to date there is still no sufficient number of randomized double-blind clinical studies that could objectively help in choosing the appropriate method of diagnosis and treatment of TMD, and that in the future those studies certainly might contribute to resolving the enigma of temporomandibular disorders.