Coquille Cosmetic Dentist, Coquille Dentist Implant, North Bend Implant Dentist, Coos Bay Cosmetic Dentist, Steven Schwam, DDS
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Address • 905 SW Rimrockway Ste 201 • Nolan Shopping Center • Redmond, OR 97756 • Phone: 541-526-5661

Diagnostic Tests - North Bend Implant Dentist

Main Neuromuscular section

Link or scroll to explanations of our therapeutic & diagnostic technologies:

  • Sonography - detecting unacceptable contractions and extensions of the jaw joint
  • CMS – measures proper/improper jaw closing, opening and turning movements
  • EMG – muscle ‘electricity’ is monitored to detect muscle stress
  • TENS – relaxing muscles to find the right posture and harmony for the jaw
  • Conclusion

Sonography
Dr. Schwam can determine whether the condition of the jaw joint is a major cause of tooth or facial pain by using Sonographic Analysis. While jaw joint pain can be present, an absence of pain in the jaw joint does not rule out jaw joint problems. Evaluating the jaw in this way can help us understand what kind of overall care you will need.

Sonographic technology records the sounds made by activity of the jaw joint. These recordings give us the information we need to understand the restrictions now placed on your jaw muscles. This is a noninvasive, user-friendly test, similar to wearing stereo headphones. Only, the ‘headphones’ are listening to your jaw joints instead of your ears. This technology is only part of the diagnosis process.

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CMS
Computerized Mandibular Scanning shows the movement of the jaw and enables us to evaluate function. It can measure the amount of free space, the swallowing pattern and the pattern at which the teeth come together. It measures the up and down and side to side movements of the jaw and the speed at which these actions can be performed. It can detect the difference in factors that are creating a normal or abnormal jaw position. If you have a disc problem, it can provide remedies.

All of this precise information is captured in the CMS scanner and displayed on a computer monitor using a sensor array and magnetic tracking technology. Then, we can present and explain these finding to you. The CMS is most helpful when it is used in conjunction with EMG recordings.

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EMG
We use surface Electromyography to determine what muscles are being stressed and which ones are in a relaxed mode. This is similar to your physician/doctor checking your heart with an EKG test. With this technology, we can find the areas that are the most serious problems. User-friendly pads or sensors are placed in specific sensing areas. Then the readings are projected on to a computer monitor, which can be seen by both team member and client.

While many doctors have been using a hands-on method to determine problem areas, tests like these are not subjective or ‘opinion’ based. The EMG can give us the basis for determining the most proper resting position for your jaw joint, thereby creating long lasting harmony. This scientific method helps us give our clients long-term freedom from pain and dental treatments that last much longer.

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TENS
To achieve a proper resting position, we need to relax the muscles of the face and jaw. This is where Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation comes in. TENS treatment has been around for over 30 years - utilized in many other medical fields.

The TENS technology uses low frequency, rhythmic electrical impulses to stimulate nerves that control chewing and facial muscles. Getting ‘TENSed’ is like experiencing a deep facial massage. After ‘TENSing,’ muscles are freed of toxins and the spasms caused by tension.

Once freed of these negative influences, muscles revert to their natural size, which relieves pain and creates an ideal environment for testing. The TENS is then used to record the most favorable jaw and bite positions. We use EMG to objectively document whether or not the TENS therapy is effective.

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Conclusion
These treatments give us a comprehensive diagnostic look at your condition. However, it does not guarantee that your successful treatment will come from the dental and therapeutic techniques we have available. Sometimes, to provide complete pain freedom we need to refer our clients to other health professionals that can address other contributing concerns.

We invite you to experience the benefits of these techniques. At the very least, we want to give you a new direction for your care that others have not. Dr. Schwam wants to end your endless doctor visits and bring your search for a long-term, pain-free solution to a conclusion.

Link to self-assessment

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