The Connection Bernards-Ridge Edition Jun/July/August 2018

www.theconnectionsnj.com The smile you’ve always dreamed of starts here. At Aesthetic Dentistry of Bernardsville, our talented dental team has the technology, training and experience to provide you with quality dental care that will give you the smile of your dreams. 10 Anderson Hill Road, Bernardsville, NJ 07924 908-221-1188 www.proudtosmile.com Dr. Patti Swaintek-Lamb D.M.D. & Staff • Cosmetic & General Dentistry • Sleep Apnea Appliances • TMJ/Headache and Pain Treatment • Invisalign and Orthodontics DO YOU SUFFER WITH TMD PAIN? If you suffer from temporomandibular joint disorder, you know just how painful and life-altering its symptoms can be. Living with TMD can mean bat- tling painful symptoms daily such as chronic headaches, face and jaw pain, and even neck, shoulder and back pain. If you have ever researched TMD, you probably notice the acronyms TMD and TMJ used interchangeably. Many patients wonder what the difference is, or if there is one at all. Although neu- romuscular dentists use the two terms interchangeably, TMD refers to the actual disorder in which your jaw joint is misaligned. Meanwhile, the joint itself – your temporomandibular joint – is abbreviated TMJ. The condition is caused by your jaw joints and muscles having a poor rela- tionship with the nerves in your neck and head. If your jaw joints and/or muscles are misaligned in even the slightest way, the nerves in your face, neck, and head send pain signals throughout these areas causing you constant discomfort. At Aesthetic Dentistry of Bernardsville, Dr. Patricia Swaintek-Lamb, uses neu- romuscular dentistry to understand the underlying issues that are causing your TMJ. This type of dentistry is used to understand the relationship between the hard and soft tissues of your mouth, as well as the adjacent muscles and nerves so that Dr. Patti can find the most comfortable and relaxed position for your jaw. Because the key to alleviating TMJ- related pain is to properly align your jaw and bite, Dr. Patti will perform diagnostic tests to help determine the best treatment plan for your specific circumstance. She does this by admin- istering a K7 evaluation, which uses jaw tracking, electromyography and joint sonography to find the ideal rest- ing point of your jaw. After your evaluation, the first step is generally the use of a neuromuscular orthotic device, which helps move your jaw into its optimal positioning. Based on the level of your condition, you will then visit our office every week or two weeks for adjustment and additional therapy, which may include: TENS THERAPY - TENS, which stands for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation helps the muscles in your jaw to relax and detox. THOR Cold Laser Therapy - Laser treat- ment for TMJ gives patients immediate pain relief producing a feeling of warmth at the deep site of pain. Other than pain relief, laser therapy has other health benefits which can contribute to long term healing. Most patients feel significant relief after 2 or 3 treatments as the inflammation goes down. Since the treatments are only about 5 to 10 minutes long, patients can schedule this over their lunch break. Laser treat- ment for TMJ pain is painless, noninva- sive and has health benefits that far exceed any relief provided by a drug. Dr. Patti is dedicated to helping her patients out of the debilitating cycle of pain caused by TMJ disorder. If you are one of the 10 million Americans suffer- ing with some degree of TMJ disorder, schedule an appointment with Dr. Patti today to see how she can help you. 10 Anderson Hill Road Bernardsville, NJ 07924 908.221.1188 PAGE 21