Dr. Ami Barakat

Cosmetic, General and Neuromuscular Dentistry

Archive for the ‘Neuromuscular Dentistry’ Category

Choosing a Neuromuscular Dentist

Monday, February 28th, 2011

Neuromuscular dentistry is a specialized field of dentistry focusing on the diagnosis and   treatment of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). The temporomandibular joints are found on either side of the face, and are responsible for smooth and pain-free opening and closing of your mouth. These joints are quite complex. In fact, this is why the dental subspecialty of neuromuscular dentistry was formed. Dentists specializing in TMD receive rigorous training, requiring knowledge and expertise from many medical and therapeutic fields, beyond general or even cosmetic dentistry.

What Your Neuromuscular Dentist Can Do

In most cases, TMD is caused by malocclusion, or a misaligned bite. This indicates the upper and lower jaws do properly align when you chew or bite down.

Dr. Ami Barakat is highly trained in using diagnostic technologies, like the TENS unit and K7 system, to evaluate the exact cause and extent of your malocclusion with precision. These neuromuscular dentistry technologies aid Dr. Barakat in determining an individualized treatment plan to correct your TMD and alleviate your pain.

Most four-year dental schools do not offer the highly specialized training required to qualify dentists to effectively and accurately diagnose and treat TMD. Dr. Barakat has received extensive neuromuscular dentistry training from the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies – the world’s most celebrated training facility for neuromuscular and cosmetic dentistry procedures and technology.

If you live in Ottawa, Kanata, and Stittsville, Ontario.and suffer from TMD, please contact Ottawa neuromuscular dentist Dr. Barakat at Dentistry @ Main to schedule your complimentary consultation.

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What Qualifies as a Neuromuscular Dentist?

Friday, February 25th, 2011

Neuromuscular dentistry focuses on disorders of the temporomandibular joint, a ball-and-socket type joint which affects how your upper and lower teeth meet. When this joint becomes misaligned, severe pain may result.

The field of neuromuscular dentistry has experienced great growth over the past two decades, as more and more people discover those unexplained headaches, back and neck pain, dizziness, and tingling in fingers is related to this disorder. Today, neuromuscular dentists can treat  temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) with advanced technologies and techniques that are more effective and accurate than ever before.

Dentistry @ Main uses the most advanced technology, including the K7 system, a sophisticated method for measuring your teeth and jaws, and the TENS unit to relax your jaw muscles into their natural, comfortable resting position, in order to relieve TMD symptoms and pain.

Along with the TENS and K7, Ottawa neuromuscular dentist Dr. Ami Barakat may recommend one or more of these highly advanced TMD treatments:

  • Reconstructive dentistry
  • Orthotic mouth guard
  • Orthodontics

After Dr. Barakat has diagnosed the extent of your TMD, he will prescribe the best course of action to relieve your discomfort.

What qualifies Dr. Barakat to provide this treatment? After graduating from dental school, Dr. Barakat continued training and education, receiving several prestigious awards designating his passion for excellence in dentistry. Some of those awards include:

  • University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry, graduated with honours
  • Member of the Canadian and Ontario Dental Associations
  • Member of the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario
  • Fellowship at the Academy of General Dentistry
  • Advanced Cosmetic Dentistry Training from the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI)

For the finest dental care, please contact our Ottawa neuromuscular dentist at Dentistry @ Main, serving patients in Ottawa, Kanata, and Stittsville, Ontario.

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Why See a Neuromuscular Dentist?

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

All dental care professionals are not created equal.  Some dentists generalize, and may not have the training or advanced technology to apply the latest techniques in neuromuscular dentistry. Nor do all cosmetic dentists practice neuromuscular dentistry.

At Dentistry @ Main, Dr. Ami Barakat is an experienced cosmetic dentist offering the very latest technology to craft your most beautiful smile. In some cases, patients who visit Dr. Barakat seeking a straighter, whiter smile are surprised to learn they may have neuromuscular issues to care for first, before cosmetic dentistry can begin.

Neuromuscular dentistry focuses on the temporomandibular joint, a small ball and socket joint found on either side of your face, responsible for smooth opening and closing of your mouth. For a variety of reasons, these joints can become misaligned, causing discomfort, pain and a host of physical problems you may not realize are related to a misaligned jaw. For example, do you have frequent headaches? How about neck or back pain? Perhaps a dizzy sensation you can’t explain? These and many more symptoms can sometimes be traced to a misaligned jaw. The medical term for this misalignment is TMD, temporomandibular joint disorder.

Often, TMD patients visit their family doctor or chiropractor seeking a solution,. This may only provide time for symptoms to worsen, as these medical professionals are not TMD specialists and may not have the skill or training to properly diagnose the disorder.

If unexplained pain is disrupting your quality of life, help is available. Please contact our Ottawa neuromuscular dentist today for a free consultation at Dentistry @ Main, serving patients in Ottawa, Kanata, and Stittsville, Ontario.

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TMJ/TMD Technology

Saturday, September 18th, 2010

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a small ball and socket joint found on either side of your face, which allows smooth opening and closing of your mouth. When this joint is out of alignment, it can cause discomfort and a host of symptoms that may seem unrelated, leading to TMD, or temporomandibular joint disorder.

Left untreated, TMD symptoms generally worsen. Thanks to technological advances in neuromuscular dentistry, however, many patients quickly see a vast improvement in:

  • Jaw, neck, shoulder, and upper back pain
  • Headaches  and migraines
  • Ear and facial pain
  • Difficulty chewing
  • Jaw clicking, popping, or locking
  • Uncomfortable or uneven bite
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Tingling fingertips
  • Dizziness or vertigo
  • Snoring

Dentistry @ Main uses the most advanced neuromuscular dentistry technology available to treat your TMJ disorder. A TENS unit relaxes your jaw so Dr. Barakat can restore the jaw’s ideal resting position and relieve your pain. State-of-the-art computerized jaw tracking technology, called the K7 system, scientifically measure your exact jaw movements so that Dr. Barakat can accurately identify and treat your unique symptoms. Other technologies for TMD treatment include orthodontics, orthotics such as a night time mouth guard, and restorative dental procedures.

Dr. Barakat combines neuromuscular dentistry with the highest quality cosmetic dentistry treatments. His goal is to ensure your new smile is not only great looking, but contributes to your overall health and well being. Dr. Barakat is a graduate of the world’s premier post-graduate dental school, The Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI) , which provides advanced training in treating this common dental condition.

Please contact us today to schedule a free TMD evaluation at Dentistry @ Main, serving Ottawa, Kanata, and Stittsville, Ontario.

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The Difference Between TMD and TMJ

Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

You’ve been diagnosed with temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD. Perhaps you begin researching the disorder online to learn more it. But, the more you read, the more confused you become. Is the disorder called TMD, or TMJ? And what is the difference?

Neuromuscular dentists often use the two terms interchangeably. TMD, or temporomandibular joint disorder, refers to the disorder that occurs when the jaw becomes misaligned. TMJ is the temporomandibular joint itself. Both terms refer to the jaw misalignment which typifies the disorder and causes pain and discomfort for as many as 15% of All Americans. Neuromuscular dentistry is the field of dentistry which concentrates on treatment of TMD.

The temporomandibular joint itself is a ball and socket joint. You have one on either side of your face, level with or just below your earlobes. This joint usually works smoothly and makes it possible to open and close your mouth, or chew, talk, and yawn. When the jaw becomes misaligned from injury or another cause, these normal tasks become painful, and treatment is necessary.

Left untreated, many symptoms can adversely affect your quality of life and perhaps even create other health problems. For example, did you know that TMD/TMJ sufferers often have frequent migraine headaches? Some patients experience tingling in their fingertips, night time teeth grinding, nausea, neck and shoulder pain, and other symptoms.

Today’s advances in dental technology allow effective, virtually painless treatment of TMD. Dentistry @ Main uses the most sophisticated neuromuscular dentistry technology, including a TENS unit , K7 computerized jaw tracking technology, and other contemporary tools to accurately identify the cause of your TMD and recommend the right plan of action to end your symptoms.

Please contact Dentistry @ Main, serving Ottawa, Kanata, and Stittsville, Ontario, to schedule your free consultation.

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What TMJ/TMD and LVI Have in Common

Tuesday, September 14th, 2010

When most people think about cosmetic dentistry, they likely envision a “Hollywood” smile.  But cosmetic dentistry is designed to accomplish so much more than mere beauty. Cosmetic dentistry can correct oral health issues, misaligned, gapped, crooked and broken teeth, and ensure your mouth is truly as healthy as it looks.

When combined with the latest advanced treatments in neuromuscular dentistry, many patients are able to regain quality of life that has been lost for some time. Neuromuscular dentistry is a field of dentistry dedicated to treating conditions which result from a misaligned jaw, which is called temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD.

The Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI) has long been recognized as a pioneer in post-graduate dental training. Doctors from across the globe, like Dr. Ami Barakat, enjoy comprehensive dental specialty education which assures patients they are receiving treatments from the world’s most well-educated dental professionals. LVI is the largest, most all-inclusive post-Doctoral dental educational program. The fact that Dr. Barakat received training at LVI is a testament to his dedication to the ultimate patient care.

So, what do TMJ/TMD and LVI have in common? Dr. Barakat, of course. Ottawa residents suffering from TMD depend on Dr. Barakat to offer the most advanced technologies and treatments, with the goal of healthy smiles, reduced pain and future good health. Dr. Barakat began his practice five years ago with no patients, and has created a thriving practice. There is only one reason why: Dr. Barakat truly cares. His LVI training is important. But when you meet Dr. Barakat, you’ll quickly see how committed he is to keeping you healthy. Patients coming to Dentistry @ Main love to go to the dentist!

Dentistry @ Main serves Ottawa, Kanata, and Stittsville, Ontario. Please contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

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