Unlike traditional restorative dentistry that may simply patch individual tooth problems, Our Kansas City TMJ expert, Dr. Prabu Raman, utilizes physiologic neuromuscular dentistry to balance the teeth, muscles, jaw joints and neck posture. This approach is designed for patients whose symptoms are linked to significant bite issues or extensive dental damage. By focusing on Physiologic neuromuscular full mouth reconstruction, we aim to restore not only your smile but also the comfortable, pain-free function of your jaw.
Understanding TMJ and the Role of Your Bite
Your temporomandibular joints (TMJ) are the foundation of your jaw movement, but they depend on your bite to function correctly. When your teeth do not fit together in a way that supports your jaw muscles, those muscles are forced to work overtime. This constant strain is often the root cause of the tension headaches, facial pain, and neck soreness that many of our patients experience.
A misaligned bite does more than cause muscle pain; it can physically damage your smile over time. You might notice that your teeth are becoming shorter, flatter, or chipped as your jaw struggles to find a comfortable resting position. This physical wear further degrades your bite, creating a cycle of pain and damage. By addressing the TMJ treatment needs of the whole system, we can stop this cycle and protect your oral health.
What Is Neuromuscular Full Mouth Reconstruction?
This procedure is the comprehensive rebuilding of the teeth and bite using advanced physiologic principles. While standard full mouth reconstruction often prioritizes the aesthetics of the teeth, our approach ensures that your new smile supports a relaxed, healthy jaw position.
We use this method to identify where your jaw and neck muscles are most comfortable and then rebuild the teeth to maintain that specific alignment. The result is a smile that is not only aesthetically beautiful but also functions in harmony with your physiology. This distinguishes Dr. Raman’s approach from cosmetic-only makeovers that ignore the underlying dysfunction and so may inadvertently lead to flare up of painful symptoms.
The Neuromuscular Process: How We Restore Balance
We believe in a predictable, data-driven process that verifies your comfort before any long term restoration begins. Dr. Raman utilizes state-of-the-art technology to eliminate the guesswork from your treatment.
- Diagnostic Phase: We utilize computerized jaw tracking and electromyography (EMG) to measure muscle activity and identify your optimal bite position.
- Treatment Planning: Once the healthy position is identified, we often use a fixed orthotic or a “test drive” phase to ensure that your symptoms resolve.
- Reconstruction Phase: After confirming relief, we correct the maxillary arch as needed by unraveling crooked teeth, widening the arch to serve as an optimal foundation for the restoration. We then restore your teeth using durable, high-quality porcelain, establishing comfortable jaw and neck alignment for the long term.
Benefits of a Balanced Bite
Choosing physiological neuromuscular full-mouth reconstruction at our Kansas City practice offers health benefits that extend far beyond cosmetic improvement. By aligning the bite with the body’s natural muscle physiology, patients often report life-changing results.
- Pain Relief: Significant reduction or elimination of chronic jaw pain, tension headaches, and neck soreness.
- Restored Chewing: The ability to eat comfortably and efficiently without muscle fatigue.
- Tooth Protection: A balanced bite prevents the grinding and clenching that destroys natural tooth structure.
- Aesthetic Lift: Restoring worn-down teeth often recovers lost facial height, providing a more youthful facial appearance.
- Long-Term Stability: Results are designed to last because the bite is built to work with your muscles, not against them.
Who Can Benefit from This Treatment?
This comprehensive solution is often the answer for patients who feel they have “tried everything” elsewhere without lasting success. It is particularly effective for those with severe TMJ disorder that has not responded to basic splint therapy or medication.
If you have widespread tooth wear, frequent breakage, or missing teeth that have compromised your bite, neuromuscular full-mouth reconstruction may be the right path. It is also ideal for patients whose symptoms are tied to poor bite mechanics that simple orthodontics cannot fully correct.
Why Choose Dr. Raman for Your Reconstruction?
Rebuilding a bite is a complex process that requires advanced training and a deep understanding of physiologic dentistry. Dr. Raman has been practicing in Kansas City since 1983 and has dedicated his career to mastering the relationship between the teeth, muscles, and joints.
With advanced credentials, including a Mastership from the International College of Craniomandibular Orthopedics (MICCMO), Diplomate status from American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, and training from the Las Vegas Institute (LVI) where he taught dentists from around the world on Full Mouth Reconstruction as a senior Clinical Instructor for a decade, Dr. Raman brings a level of expertise that is rare in the field. We combine this experience with precision technology to provide care that is both accurate and compassionate. When you choose Raman Center, you are choosing a partner dedicated to your long-term wellness.
Ready to Talk?
Request a TMJ Consultation and tell us a bit about your symptoms. Our team will follow up to schedule your visit and outline the next steps.
