How Dentistry Can Heal that Pain in Your Neck

If you have been suffering from chronic neck pain, you know how debilitating this kind of pain can be.  Neck pain can affect all areas of your life. Depending on its severity, you may find yourself unable to participate in normal daily activities, from going to work to visiting with friends.  You may even find it hard to get out of bed at times.  While taking pain medication can offer temporary relief, if you are unable to find the source of your pain then you are in for a vicious cycle.  When you have sought out the advice of doctors and they are unable to pinpoint the cause of your neck pain, it is time to see your dentist.  Your pain could be caused by a dental condition and you may be unaware of it.

How are the neck and the mouth related?

The body is a complex system of interconnectedness and your neck and mouth are no exception.  The most obvious connection is the muscles that are connected to your jaw that are also connected to your neck.  If there is even slight misalignment in your jawline, the affects of this can manifest as neck pain.  This is most often seen with patients suffering from temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.  TMJ Disorder can have a range of symptoms and often will go misdiagnosed or undiagnosed because of this range.  Misalignment of the TMJ can cause headaches, neck pain, back pain, numbness in the hands and feet, cracked teeth, facial pain and more.  With TMJ syndrome you may experience all, some or only one of the symptoms.  It can be tricky to diagnose which is why you need to see a specialist.

Neuromuscular Dentistry

Dr. Siman is more than just a dentist.  He is a TMJ specialist and an expert in neuromuscular dentistry.  This means he understands the ways your TMJ can affect your overall health and he has the expertise and technology to treat your condition.  Most dentists do not receive the additional training needed to recognize when a person's TMJ is the root of the problem.  And if they know that the TMJ is the problem, they do not always know the best way to treat it.  This is when they would send a patient to a neuromuscular dentist like Dr. Siman.

Dr. Siman focuses on finding the most relaxed position for your jaw through a series of diagnostic tests.  Once he determines where your jaw should sit for optimum comfort, he will fit you for an orthotic that will keep your jaw in this position.  An orthotic is basically a removable mouthpiece that will keep your jaw in its relaxed position and acts as an extension of your teeth.  The mouthpiece is noninvasive and the entire procedure is nonsurgical.  Not only will it help to relieve your symptoms but it will also act to improve the overall function and aesthetics of your mouth. 

If you have been suffering from neck pain and don't know where else to turn, give Dr. Siman a call.  Your road to recovery could be shorter than you think!