Dr. Ami Barakat

Cosmetic, General and Neuromuscular Dentistry

Archive for the ‘TMD’ Category

TMJ/TMD Treatments

Sunday, October 31st, 2010

Have you suffered with migraines for years, only to be diagnosed with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD)?  It’s hard to believe that one small misaligned joint can cause so many painful symptoms.  Thankfully, Dr. Ami Barakat is a leading Ottawa neuromuscular dentist with the training and experience to evaluate, diagnose and relieve your symptoms.

Dr. Barakat’s team of highly trained professionals are dedicated to providing you with the best TMD care, using the latest advances in dental technology  The K7 system, TENS unit, orthodontics, and orthotics are just a few of the potential treatments that may help to alleviate or reduce your painful TMD.

Often, the cause of TMD is unclear. Several factors may play a part:

  • Improper bite
  • Jaw joint out of alignment
  • Jaw joint cartilage damaged by arthritis
  • Jaw joint damaged by injury
  • Muscles stabilizing the joint become fatigued, sometimes from grinding your teeth

Your best treatment for TMD doesn’t rely on technology, but on doctor skill and knowledge. Most general dentists have not received the proper training to treat neuromuscular disorders effectively. Dr. Barakat’s education in neuromuscular dentistry includes prestigious training at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI). Not only has he studied neuromuscular dentistry and TMJ treatment at LVI, but he was awarded a scholarship as a promising cosmetic dentist.

Please contact Dentistry @ Main today if you suffer from TMJ related symptoms in Stittsville, Ottawa, or Kanata, Ontario.

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TMJ/TMD Headaches

Saturday, October 30th, 2010

Do you suffer from frequent, unexplained migraines and facial pain? Perhaps a misaligned jaw is the cause.

Dr. Ami Barakat, an Ottawa neuromuscular dentist, specializes in neuromuscular dentistry, a field of dentistry dedicated to treating jaw misalignment, or temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).

TMD can cause a wide variety of painful symptoms. Headaches, even migraines, are one of those symptoms. If you’ve ever had a migraine, you know your prime focus is to make the pain stop. If TMD is causing your migraine, it may mean your temporomandibular joint isn’t functioning smoothly. The constant pressure and grating of the jaw muscles may result in headaches.

Other symptoms you may associate with your migraine, but which are actually TMD-related, include dizziness, tingling in the fingertips, nausea, and ringing in the ears, among others.

TMJ/TMD Treatments

Don’t suffer in silence. Today’s TMD treatment is effective and pain-relieving. Using the latest technology helps dentists like Ami Barakat evaluate, diagnose and precisely treat the cause of your symptoms, so you can get back to enjoying life once again. The K7 system analyzes how your jaw functions over time.  A TENS unit helps relieve pain and discomfort through relaxation.  Orthodontics or an oral mouth guard can realign the jaw.

While your family doctor is baffled by your persistent pain, make an appointment with an experienced, knowledgeable neuromuscular dentist. You could be suffering from TMJ/TMD headaches.

Please contact Dentistry @ Main, serving Ottawa, Kanata, and Stittsville, Ontario today, for a free dental consultation.

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TMJ/TMD Symptoms

Friday, October 29th, 2010

Do you suffer from frequent headaches you can’t explain? Your headaches may be a symptom of TMJ/TMD, or temporomandibular joint disorder.

What is TMJ/TMD?

Temporomandibular joint disorder involves the joints on either side of the scull that enable smooth opening and closing of the mouth.  If this joint is misaligned, pain can be the result.

Fortunately, Ottawa neuromuscular dentist Dr. Ami Barakat offers several treatment options to address this common jaw problem.

Dr. Barakat may suggest a TENS unit to help control the pain.  In some circumstances, orthodontics or a mouth guard will force the joint back into proper alignment.  The K7 system can measure your jaw movements to help Dr. Barakat determine the root cause.

Recognizing the symptoms of TMJ/TMD

Many TMJ/TMD sufferers mistake the signs of this disorder for another health condition.  Most people don’t consider a visit to their dentist in their search for a treatment.

For example, did you know that neck and shoulder pain is common in TMJ/TMD patients?  Dizziness, tingling in the fingers, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), snoring and a host of other symptoms can stem from TMD.

If you think TMD may be causing your painful symptoms, please contact the friendly professional team at Dentistry @ Main, serving Ottawa, Kanata, and Stittsville, Ontario, to schedule a thorough dental examination and TMD evaluation.

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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.

Posted in Neuromuscular Dentistry, TMD | Comments Off

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