What Are Neuromuscular Orthodontics?
Neuromuscular orthodontics goes beyond traditional teeth straightening. It focuses on alignment between the teeth, jaw joints, and surrounding muscles. By addressing how the bite functions, this approach may help reduce jaw tension and improve comfort.
As part of our comprehensive dental care in Moore County, we offer neuromuscular orthodontics for patients from Southern Pines, Pinehurst, Aberdeen, and the surrounding Sandhills communities. Treatment considers your bite, jaw function, and airway health to support a healthier, more balanced smile and long-term stability. When appropriate, we may combine orthodontics with TMJ treatment to address jaw pain, headaches, and muscle strain.
Benefits of Neuromuscular Orthodontics
Neuromuscular orthodontics focuses on both tooth alignment and how your jaw functions. As part of our dental care in Moore County, this approach may help improve comfort, bite balance, and stability over time.
Improved Facial Profile: Your jaw structure supports the lower portion of your face. When treatment can guide jaw development or improve alignment, it may also create a more balanced facial profile. The changes possible depend on your age and jaw structure.
Support for Airway Health: Jaw shape and position influence the space available for breathing. For suitable patients, addressing narrow dental arches or jaw alignment may support airway function. The potential benefits depend on your individual needs.
More Room for Teeth and Tongue: When appropriate, developing the dental arches can create room for crowded teeth and improve the space available for your tongue. Improving the bite may also help reduce tongue or cheek biting.
Improved Jaw Comfort: Neuromuscular orthodontics may involve improving jaw alignment as part of a personalized TMJ treatment plan. Our dentist evaluates your bite, muscles, and jaw joints to determine whether orthodontics may help reduce strain and support more comfortable function.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Neuromuscular Orthodontics?
Neuromuscular orthodontics may be an option when you need more than cosmetic teeth straightening. It considers how jaw alignment and muscle function affect your bite and comfort. Symptoms such as headaches, facial pain, jaw clicking, or neck and shoulder tension may warrant an evaluation. Crowded teeth or difficulty chewing can also prompt a closer look at how your bite functions.
For some patients undergoing TMJ treatment, orthodontics may help support a more balanced bite. Children and adults may be candidates, although treatment options depend on age, jaw development, and the cause of their concerns.
At our Moore County practice, we welcome patients from Southern Pines and surrounding communities. During your evaluation, Dr. Mandy Grimshaw will assess how your teeth, muscles, and jaw joints work together. She will explain whether neuromuscular orthodontics may improve your bite and comfort, along with any other care that may be appropriate.
Advanced Education and Training
Our Moore County dentist, Dr. Mandy Grimshaw, brings advanced training in orthodontics and neuromuscular dentistry to each treatment plan. She earned a Fellowship from the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI), where she studied the relationship between jaw position, muscle function, and airway health.
Her training helps her evaluate more than tooth alignment. She considers how your bite functions and which treatment options fit your needs. These may include clear aligners such as ClearCorrect and Invisalign, traditional wire braces, or removable appliances. Depending on your age and jaw development, treatment may focus on guiding growth or improving bite alignment to support comfort and stability.
Our Neuromuscular Orthodontics Process
Your care begins with a thorough evaluation at our Moore County practice. Dr. Grimshaw assesses your bite, jaw joints, and muscle function. She also reviews symptoms that may suggest TMJ problems or sleep apnea, since these concerns can affect treatment planning.
If you need TMJ treatment, she may recommend an orthotic device to help reduce muscle strain and establish a comfortable, stable bite position before orthodontics begins. If your symptoms suggest sleep apnea, she may recommend sleep testing. When sleep apnea is diagnosed, she will coordinate care with your sleep physician to support your breathing and sleep health throughout orthodontic treatment.
Choosing the Right Orthodontic Treatment
At Kuhn Dental Associates in Aberdeen, we offer orthodontic options to address different needs and goals. Dr. Grimshaw will recommend an approach based on your tooth alignment, bite function, and stage of jaw development.
Clear aligners such as Invisalign or ClearCorrect may suit patients who want a discreet way to straighten their teeth. Traditional braces or removable appliances may be more appropriate for certain bite concerns or to guide jaw development in growing children.
Orthodontic treatment is gradual and may take a year or longer, depending on your needs. Dr. Grimshaw will monitor your progress and explain how to care for your teeth and appliances. Following these instructions and wearing retainers as recommended can help maintain your alignment and bite over time.
Achieve Balance, Health, and Confidence
A straighter smile is only part of the goal. Neuromuscular orthodontics considers how your teeth, jaw joints, and muscles work together to support a comfortable bite. Whether you want to address crowding, improve bite function, or explore care for jaw discomfort, Dr. Mandy Grimshaw will help you understand your options.
We welcome patients from Pinehurst and across the Sandhills to our Moore County practice. If jaw tension, uneven tooth wear, or difficulty chewing affects your daily life, call (910) 692-4450 to request a consultation. Together, we can create a plan focused on your comfort, function, and confidence in your smile.