Dr. Yves Delessert - Avenue Cardinal-Mermillod 1 - 1227 Carouge - CH - Tel : +41 22 300 67 60
Dr. Yves Delessert - Avenue Cardinal-Mermillod 1 - 1227 Carouge - CH - Tel : +41 22 300 67 60
K7 equipment from Myotronics-Noromed Inc.
Neuromuscular Dentistry (NMD) is the science of dentistry that embodies accepted scientific principles of patho-physiology, anatomy, form and function. NMD objectively evaluates the complex relationship between teeth, temporomandibular joints and the masticatory muscles in order to achieve an occlusion that is based on the optimal relationship between the mandible and the skull - Neuromuscular Occlusion. The goal of the Neuromuscular Dentist is to relax the muscles controlling jaw position to establish a true physiological rest position.
Neuromuscular Dentistry begins with the true relaxation of the muscles through the use of TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation). TENS is a widely used term, but as used in Neuromuscular Dentistry it is more properly called ultra-low frequency electrical muscle stimulation. The goal is to overcome the existing noxious proprioception and achieve a relaxed state of the musculature. From this relaxed state, a new occlusion (neuromuscular occlusion) is established and can be used for your dental treatments.
J5 TENS unit from Myotronics-Noromed Inc.
Muscles activity, before and after TENS
Muscles of the face and neck are often
"programmed" (propriocepted) to control head and mandibular posture
in a way that accommodates occlusion, even though that particular occlusion may
be less than ideal.
Dr. Delessert wants to relax these tensed muscles to find
their true resting state and establish your occlusion at that position. As it
is impossible to voluntarily overcome this proprioception by oneself, "TENS"
is used.
A secondary use of low frequency stimulation is to achieve drug-free
pain relief of pain of muscular origin.
The condition of your teeth and your joints
very often cause your muscles to accommodate. Evaluation of the hard tissue
alone does not provide insight to the true status of the occlusal system.
This
is why Dr. Delessert uses objective, scientific documentation methods in the
comprehensive evaluation of your occlusion. Through the use of jaw tracking,
electromyography and joint sound recording, a complete analysis of the function
(or dysfunction) of your masticatory system is accomplished.
"Jaw tracking" is one of the
modalities used by Neuromuscular Dentists. It is used to precisely identify the
relationship of the mandible to the skull and to study mandibular movement
dynamically.
Sensors track the path of the mandible in three dimensions by
sensing magnetic field changes - a science developed by Myotronics-Noromed Inc.
Dr Delessert is the only neuromuscular dentist in Switzerlandregistered with Myotronics.
The data produced through jaw tracking has
three important roles.
First, is to permit the dentist to study
mandibular action dynamically by recording and replaying traces representative
of your mandibular path of opening and closing. This can reveal, in a highly
precise fashion, a number of anomalies otherwise difficult to discern. One
example is a sudden slowdown of mandibular velocity, invisible to the eye but
often an alert to a clicking joint, a poor bite or other specific symptoms...
Second, the jaw tracking device records
the relationship of the mandible to the skull with great precision, information
useful in the diagnostic process, and in taking a neuromuscular bite
registration.
The third application of jaw tracking is
to record and verify that patient's closure to centric occlusion is on a
neuromuscular (physiologic) trajectory.