The Difference between Neuromuscular Dentistry and Traditional Splint Treatment - My Experience

So, it's been a difficult few months. I have to say I was reaching the end of my pain limits. No, it wasn't the worst pain I've ever been in, but it was the worst pain my joint has ever been in. This is round two for me of having a splint fitted for my jaw.

I was told by the doctor I'm currently working with, who is an orofacial doctor, that he didn't find a difference using the Neuromuscular approach, versus the treatment he currently uses. My personal experience has been VERY different! I'm by no means saying one way is definitely better than another, but for me personally, my experience with a traditional method for fitting a jaw splint was significantly LESS painful via the Neuromuscular approach, and I will tell you why!

1. Neuro starting point didn't seem like a shot in the dark: In order to find a splint to start with there were two very different ways that these doctors began. I will refer to the Neuromuscular dentistry as the "Neuro" approach and the Orofacial doctor as the "Oro" approach, just to make things clearer.

The Neuro approach was to find my most relaxed state by using the tensing unit, that sent electrical impulses into my jaw muscles to relax them and remove the "muscle memory." Molds were taken for my jaw in this state. (There was more to it, including scans, but this was the main difference.)

The Oro approach was to take a Cone Beam scan, and then having spoken with me and also taking some current molds, they created a splint based on my issues visually. Granted I appreciated the time taken to speak to me and also evaluate my current pain. The doctor also probed my face physically to determine the areas of highest pain for me.

The Results: Neither splint felt 100% when I first started wearing it, however the Neuro splint did not cause me unbearable pain. The Oro splint was so completely off that I was in excruciating pain for the first two weeks to the point where I couldn't wear it any more. The Neuro splint was somewhat tight on my teeth, that would be the biggest discomfort, but it was immediately helpful to my jaw. I think the only reason the Neuro splint was tight on my teeth was because when she took my molds the tray was a bit tight to begin with so I think it pushed my teeth back. (They can definitely give you more room for your teeth though, so just tell them if it feels tight!)

In my humble opinion, the starting point for the Oro splint was more of a guessing game. After three visits (at $120 a pop!) I'm finally starting to feel that I've reached a level of comfort with my splint. The amount of pain I was initially in, seemed unnecessary in comparison to the methods that the Neuro dentist used to find my comfortable bite.

2. Oro relying on me to figure it out: It was a bit unnerving how much the Oro was relying on me to figure out how my splint should fit. It seemed much less calculated and precise than the Neuro splint. For example, the Neuro would have me TENS for an hour before making adjustments. My muscles were relaxed and I didn't question where I was biting on the splint. The Neuro's adjustments were very accurate and small. When she returned, the splint was definitely better.

The Oro would similarly have me bite on the ink paper then the splint, without Tensing first. They would adjust and come back asking if it felt okay. Initially I said it seemed fine, then after a very bad first two weeks I started really dictating what they should do. I was relying on them to shape it to my mouth, like the Neuro had, but they failed me completely! I felt I had to really think about what felt weird, but at the same time it's difficult to tell at first, especially if your muscles are used to the wrong bite!

3. Final Pros and Cons: So, is there a difference? Well I honestly thought the answer was going to be a solid "No." I went into this new treatment with the mindset that all the bells and whistles of Neuro was more of a show than an actual benefit. I even believed that it might just be a reason for them to charge more. What I discovered, at least to start out with, was that finding a base-level for the jaw muscles using instruments that measure when they are activated, actually saved me a lot of unnecessary pain. Granted, there was initially discomfort with the Neuro splint as well, but honestly I've never experienced so much pain as when I was wearing the Oro splint! It was actually better without it, and my jaw causes me a considerable amount of pain normally.

I felt this was a bad way to start out my experience with this new treatment, but I continued to revisit the office for adjustments and feel as though I've reached a more comfortable level. I know that this is a process, but having a basis of comparison, I do believe the Neuro method has something to it...at least in my experience. I will continue to be hopeful...as you know the reason I switched from my Neuro to the Orofacial doctor was mainly because of the next steps.

I wasn't unhappy with my Neuro splint, it had unfortunately broken due to wear and tear (I had it for 3 years or more!). I decided to try another doctor mainly to see if I could find a more affordable way to reach a permanent solution using braces. You can read about what my Neuro Phase II options had been in my previous blog post.

Well, that's my two cents so far. At this point, Oro treatment is slightly less expensive than my Neuro treatment has been, however not by much, and I foresee spending more on this treatment over time. My Neuro orthotic cost a flat fee of around $3,000. I'm probably close to $2,000 for my Oro treatment. This is a common argument, and while it still is holding true, the splint treatment seems to be close in cost. This may be entirely different when I get to a Phase II of treatment such as braces, but I guess only time will tell.