Migraine Prevention: Neuromuscular Dentistry Is A Safe And Effective Method For Many Patients.

May 20, 2010 - PRLog -- Neuromuscular Dentistry offers an attractive alternative to many patients suffering from Chronic Daily Headaches, Migraines and Tension-Type Headaches.  Neuromuscular Dentistry works by correcting the underlying physiologic pathology that is responsible for disruptions to the Trigeminal Nervous System.

The Trigeminal Nerves are known to be a factor in almost all Chronic Daily Headaches and Migraines.  Understanding the nervous system is essential to realize the potential of physiologic pathology.  The nervous system consists of the spinal column and the brain.  Twenty percent of the input to our brains come from the spinal column.  Eighty percent of the input to the brain comes directly into the brain from twelve sets of Cranial Nerves.

These Cranial Nerves are responsible for sight, smell, taste, eye movement, hearing, sense of balance or proprioception as well as control of the autonomic nervous system a major component is the tenth cranial nerve or Vagus Nerve.

The fifth cranial nerve is the Trigeminal Nerve.  It is often considered to be the Dentist's nerve.  It accounts for   approximately70 percent of the input to the brain from the twele cranial nerves, or more than half of the total input to the brain.

The Trigeminal Nerve goes primarily to the teeth, the jaw muscles, the jaw joints and to the periodontal ligaments.  When the jaws and teeth are in an improper  physiologic position it results in accomadative behavior in the jaw muscles to avoid pathology.  This results in nociceptive or pain impulses entering the brain.  This is of major importance because of the other structures innervated by the Trigeminal Nerve.

The Trigeminal Nerve controls the blood flow to the anterior two thirds of the  brain thru the the meninges.  It also innervates the lining of the sinuses and is responsible for sinus headaches and frontal headaches.  It controls the tensor of the ear drum and is frequently responsible for ear pain and tinnitus, ringing or humming noises in the ear.

The Trigeminal Nerve also controls the muscle that opens and closes the eustacian tube and can be responsibe for ear pressure or pain as well as feeling like the ears are stuffy or water filled.

Intrestingly, the Trigeminal nerve also innervates nasal mucosa and is the nerve that "smells" menthol.

TMJ disorders are known as "The Great Imposter" because they mimic so many other conditions and frequently do not have any clicking or popping of the joint or pain with jaw movement.  Patients with chronic headaches of migraines should definitely read two articles that are published in Sleep and Health Journal.

The first "SUFFER NO MORE:  DEALING WITH THE GREAT IMPOSTER" CAN BE FOUND at http://sleepandhealth.com/story/suffer-no-more-dealing-gr... deals with conditions patients are trying to cope with that can be treated by a neuromuscular dentist.  The second article discusses the scientific basis for Neuromuscular Dentistry (http://sleepandhealth.com/neuromuscular-dentistry) and was originally published by the AES or American Equilibration Society.  The AES is the oldest and largest organization dedicated to treatment of TMD and Occlusion.  Very few members of the AES are Neuromuscular Dentists, the majority still utilize centric relation dentistry.

ICCMO, The International College of CranioMandibular Orthopedics is the most important group of Neuromuscular Dentists.

Patients wishing to learn more about Neuromuscular Dentistry and the treatment of various types of headaches can find extensive information at http://www.ihateheadaches.org.

Patients in Northern Illinois including Gurnee, Lake Forest, Highland Park, Barrington, Libertyville and surrounding areas can visit Dr Ira Shapira at his Gurnee office, Delany Dental Care Ltd.  http://www.delanydentalcare.com.

Dr Shapira is a Fellow of ICCMO and is currently Secretary of the organization.  He is also a Diplomate of the American Academy of Pain Management.  

Sleep Apnea is also considered to be a TMJ disorder according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.  The report "CARDIOVASCULAR AND SLEEP RELATED CONSEQUENCES OF TMJ DISORDERS" can be found at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/meetings/workshops/tmj_wksp.pdf

Dr Shapira is founder of I HATE HEADACHES LLC and I Hate CPAP LLC and President of Chicagoland Dental Sleep Medicine Associates.  He treats patients with Sleep Apnea in Gurnee, Skokie and Schaumburg.  He is planning on opening a new office in Highland Park this year dedicated primarily to the treatment of chronic head and neck pain, TMJ disorders, migraine prevention and sleep apnea.

# # #

I HATE CPAP! LLC provides information on Sleep Apnea, Dental Sleep Medicine and alternative to CPAP for patients who are CPAP intolerant. The website http://www.ihatecpap.com has valuable information on treating sleep apnea utilizing oral appliances.