Face Lift Dentistry®
Headaches and Jaw Pain
After years of searching for a resolution to her almost daily headaches and jaw pain she decided to head to Los Angeles. She had already seen seven different doctors who offered everything from Botox shots to braces to a classic bite reconstruction. Trusting her instincts she somehow knew that facial shots, a third round of braces or a classic bite reconstruction was not the answer for her.
In search of another solution she found Dr. Muslin and read about his treatment called Face Lift Dentistry ®. So many patients were finding jaw pain and headache relief through the treatment that it gave her hope. While her goal was pain relief and a comfortable jaw position she could not help but notice the cosmetic results as well. Several patients looked dramatically younger and their entire faces were improved. Why not improve your jaw health while developing the best smile and facial shape all without surgery?
At her very first exam with Dr. Muslin the challenge was clear. She had an extremely deep overbite and her teeth showed extensive signs of grinding and wear. The overbite condition was so severe that the tissue in the corners of her mouth actually folded over themselves causing constant skin infections. She explained to us that she had already attempted "braces twice to get her bite into a comfortable position" but that it did not work. With daily headaches, jaw pain, and a deep overbite there was no question that Face Lift Dentistry ® was a non-invasive solution to her problems.
TMJ and Headache Pain Relief
To test Dr. Muslin's diagnosis he began her treatment with a test appliance designed around the anatomy of her left and right jaw joints. This appliance repositioned her jaw and bite into a more elongated and forward position. The goal was to understand what percentage of her pain was truly tied to her extremely bad bite and TMJ. After wearing the test appliance for just a few days she said that her jaw was starting to "open up" and that "it is not so tight in the morning". Several weeks later she said that "the headaches have faded away and my jaw has opened up even more". It was now clear that a large percentage of her symptoms such as the facial pain, jaw tiredness, frequent headaches, and uncomfortable bite could be corrected with Face Lift Dentistry ®.
An Ideal Bite Position with Face Lift Dentistry®
The next step was for Dr. Muslin to design and construct the permanent ideal bite position in porcelain. Success was defined as improved chewing capacity, a more comfortable jaw position, and less facial pain. With the goal of making dramatic improvements to her health there was also a great opportunity to take ten years of off her face. To capture a more youthful look she needed a wider and fuller smile that supported her lips and the soft tissue of her face. The color of her existing teeth did not compliment her facial coloring and had to be completely reconsidered. Likewise she needed longer and more femininely shaped teeth that would give her a refreshed look when she smiled.
Dr. Muslin began the Face Lift Dentistry ® bite reconstruction and jaw repositioning treatment with her complete upper arch. Just a few days after finishing the upper teeth the infections in the corners of her mouth cleared up. Because Face Lift Dentistry ® non-surgically elongated her face, the folds in the soft tissue at the corners of her mouth were eliminated and the chronic infection cleared. She was now half of the way through her treatment and experiencing fewer headaches, less facial pain, and improved chewing capacity. She told us that "people say there is something better about me and they are all smiling at me like never before".
To complete the treatment it was time to eliminate the test appliance and build the lower arch. Dr. Muslin designed the complete bite concept from the onset but he actively adjusted the design based upon what he was seeing from the patient. It is absolutely critical that this type of fine-tuning occurs if you want the ideal results. As her jaw muscles relaxed and she was able to open wider and chew like never before, Dr. Muslin modified the lower arch to continue the positive and healthy trend.
A Wider and Vibrant Smile
Upon completion of the Face Lift Dentistry ® treatment, she was looking and feeling better than ever. She said that "to not wake up in pain is so wonderful, to think I had almost given up". Her health results should continue to improve in the coming weeks and last for many years. Her smile was now wider and more vibrant and it complimented the coloring in her skin and eyes.
Her Face Lift Dentistry ® treatment was specifically designed to improve the proportions and shape of her face even when she was not smiling. Prior to treatment her lips were squished together and the bottom half of her face was too short. After years of grinding and tooth shortening her chin had literally become to close to her nose which forced her jaw into an uncomfortable position. The good news is that all of this was reversible without surgery, fillers or shots.
Face Lift Dentistry - Notice how the corners of her mouth no longer turn down and her fuller lips in the after image.
Now her face is elongation giving her a softer and more feminine chin and jawline. Her lips are fuller and her face is in better proportion. The entire look is younger, more refreshed and best of all, her jaw position is ideal and healthy for the first time in years.