Daniel R. Melnick D.D.S

TMJ & Neuromuscular Testing

Laurel, Columbia, Fulton, Silver Spring - Maryland

Not every dentist does neuromuscular testing, but at Laurel Lakes Cosmetic Dentistry, in Laurel, Maryland, we do offer it.

Neuromuscular testing for TMJ begins with neuromuscular dentist Dr. Melnick asking you some questions about your pain and about activities that you might be doing related to that pain, e.g., teeth clenching, gum chewing, or holding a phone against your shoulder for long periods.

He'll then do some visual and manual tests and continue with an in-depth and precise series of evaluations.

Initial TMJ testing

Dr. Melnick will perform a visual evaluation, looking for a misaligned bite (malocclusion). He'll do a hands-on evaluation (palpation ) to get a clearer picture of the muscle conditions:

• Outside the mouth, checking for tenderness and pain
• Inside the mouth
• On the neck

He'll check the range of motion of your jaw.

Evaluations

Specialized technology is used to more precisely determine the proper alignment of your bite.

• A computerized mandibular scan - Precisely tracks the movement of the jaw, resting position, opening, closing, chewing and swallowing movements
• Electromyography - Measures the electrical activity in the jaw muscles to determine muscle function, both moving and while relaxed, and measures the jaw-to-skull relationship
• Sonography - Records the sounds of the jaw joint in motion, such as popping or clicking sounds

This combination of tests allows us to determine exactly what is going wrong with your bite, and what we need to do to achieve proper alignment and relieve your TMJ symptoms.

Dr. Melnick provides painless and anxiety-free TMJ solutions, in Laurel, Maryland. Contact us today for your initial consultation, your first step in TMJ relief. View our Before and After Gallery and read Testimonials from our patients.