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Cosmetic Dentistry Directory Blog
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Thursday, September 16, 2010
Muscles and Malocclusion: Nurture over Nature?
For decades, the debate over the cause of malocclusion (misaligned bite) has generated many studies and even more arguments among researchers. Finding the root causes of bite misalignment is very important because malocclusion can cause discomfort, cosmetic dental problems, and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). TMD can have a wide range of symptoms, including TMJ migraine headaches, neck and back pain, and others.
The most common consensus on the causes of malocclusion is that tooth position is generally more determined by environmental factors while the skeletal architecture of the face is determined by heredity. This consensus assumes, however, that the root cause of malocclusion must be skeletal anatomy and tooth position.
Dr. Rohan Wijey argues in September's Dental Tribune that muscles, rather than bones, are the most likely cause of malocclusion. Citing several research studies, Wijey deftly debunks the arguments for a genetic origin of malocclusion and makes the case that muscle dysfunction caused by environmental factors like diet and oral respiration.
Wijey's argument is important to general dentists as well as cosmetic dentists and orthodontists, but it really highlights the need for research in the field of neuromuscular dentistry. Neuromuscular dentists treat TMD symptoms caused by malocclusion through the use of several TMD treatment strategies to relax facial muscles and bring the TMJ joint into better alignment.
If Wijey is correct, traditional treatments for malocclusion that address only tooth position and skeletal anatomy should perhaps be reconsidered in favor of a more neuromuscular approach.
To find out more about malocclusion and TMJ treatment, please contact us or click on the map at the bottom of the page to find a neuromuscular dentist in your state.
posted by
Nathan Graber
at
9:46 AM
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