ARTICLES

No doubt, if you are one of the estimated 40 million North Americans that suffer with chronic headaches, ringing ears, facial pain, clicking jaws, or clenching and grinding, you are in desperate need of relief.

You may have Myofacial Pain Dysfunction (MPD). This chronic illness of many and varied symptoms can be due to and "unbalanced bite". Your bite is created by the way that the upper and lower teeth fit together and the way the muscles of your head and neck are postured.

An unbalanced bite can be compared to a vehicle operating with three regular tires and a spare. The vehicle will not run optimally, and will soon show signs of strain and wear.

When the position of your jaw, in relation to your skull, is in malocclusion, your teeth are forcing the muscles of your face and jaw into a strained and unnatural position.

Once accurately diagnosed, conservative treatment methods, rather than surgery or drugs, are often the most successful for long-term pain resolution.

Establishing a neuromuscular "bite" resolves the structural and emotional frustration that accompanies MPD. Understanding how to treat jaw dysfunction is important to its treatment.

A Neuromuscular Dentist trained to diagnose and treat the jaw position will design a treatment plan that will work for you. Whether you MPD pain is a result of a recent accident, or is something that you have "managed" for a long time, there is help available to you.

Information provided by Dr. Cam Kesteven, DDS.

Published in the Abbotsford & Mission News, June 26, 2004