Neuromuscular Dentistry

Neuromuscular dentistry is inherently limited in effectiveness in treating bruxing due to its purely peripheral approach. Practitioners seek merely to manipulate sensory(afferent) inputs to the disordered part of the brain, the latter of which is the root cause of the problem. Yes, malocclusion and jaw positions can trigger bruxing in some, but they are only triggering the processes of a deranged trigeminal nucleus in the brain. And the neuromuscular dentists don't understand the neurological processes they are dealing with. Worse, neuromuscular dentists charge a great deal of money for services that all too often make patients much, much worse.

The best treatment approaches will focus directly on the trigeminal nucleus, which is the heart of the problem. There are various causes for derangement of these circuits, but medications such as Gabitril, along with Lamictal, Lexapro, or Welbutrin, can successfully reduce or eliminate bruxing for many. For the rest, find a good oral or plastic surgeon to administer Botox injections in the masseters to decrease the force of clenching and bruxing.

These treatments actually work and don't involve changes to your bite or other changes that communicate signals to your trigeminal nuclei that we as yet don't understand.

Remember that about 90% of people brux, but most do so lightly, without problems. A minority of us brux so hard that we damage teeth and our jaw joints. The former can sharpen teeth and even out bites. it makes adaptive sense. The latter does not and is due to the trigeminal circuits responsible for adaptive bruxing put into overdrive.

Those having trouble affording meds or Botox can contact the manufacturers and often get them for free.

So, the first lines of treatment are with your general dentist and a psychiatrist. Then, oral surgeon. Never, ever go to a neuromuscular dentist unless everything else has failed and suicide is plan B.