NEUROMUSCULAR DENTISTRY
Dr. Willardsen uses diagnostic technology to evaluate the cause rather than just symptomatology. Many smile-restoration patients are surprised to learn that their bites must first be corrected. “Crooked, broken and worn-out teeth may be a symptom of a misaligned jaw. Our job is to create the optimal bite before proceeding with cosmetic work.” According to Dr. Willardsen, some people never noticed their bites were “off.” “It’s like a pebble in your shoe. After a while, you learn to ignore it. There is no sense in cosmetically altering a smile when the foundation is flawed.” Twelve painless computer-generated diagnostic tests are administered for further accuracy. “We can track patterns, place the patches to measure stress on the chewing muscles and use little magnets between the lips and teeth to mark the correct trajectory. The jaw then relaxes into its proper position, and the patient’s bite is improved.”