Neuromuscular Dentistry in Nashville, TN - Center for Advanced Dentistry

At the Center for Advanced Dentistry in Nashville, the success of our treatment requires taking the neuromuscular approach in everything we do. Neuromuscular dentistry differs from common dental practices in important and foundational ways.

Traditionally and currently, dentists tend to focus on teeth and gums. The neuromuscular approach goes further than traditional dentistry and bases much of its success on getting muscles and nerves to work harmoniously with your teeth and joints.

If you are in Nashville and need a dentist who relies on neuromuscular diagnostics to bring harmony to oral muscles and effectively end your dental discomfort, please contact our office online or call us directly at (615) 383-6787 to book an appointment with Dr. Forbes.

Our treatment options are presented for your consideration and give you a basic understanding of our do-no-harm strategy.

Achieving Oral Harmony with Neuromuscular Dentistry

For some people, teeth can be a hardship. For these people, neuromuscular dentistry provides solutions without unnecessary treatments or procedures.

Neuromuscular dentistry is concerned with the dynamic physical relationship between the range of motion, or posturing, of the joints in the head, neck, and body. While teeth are an important element in this relationship, their optimal performance and function is based on how well muscles work together.

Determining each individual’s correct jaw position is done scientifically, and can result in treatments that mean the difference between continued discomfort and a completely healthy person.

Clinically, Dr. Forbes looks beyond the teeth to the muscles of the jaw, which can play a profound role in the stress and pain associated with poor or improper oral function. Building up a person’s worn teeth or adjusting the angle of their teeth can solve many problems.

In order to properly treat, resolve and prevent aches and pains rooted in the teeth, mouth and jaw, our dentist’s mission is to identify what region or area the pain is coming from.

Some of the issues Dr. Forbes might survey during his evaluation include:

Tooth decay, wear or trauma
Past dental work
Gum tissue health
Jaw bone structure
Facial muscle stresses

Our staff will also attempt to determine what circumstances stimulate a patient’s pain, and how long the issue has been going on.

Preventing and Treating TMJ

One of the common outcomes of an inharmonious relationship between teeth, muscles, and nerves is temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ or sometimes TMD). TMJ can be transitory and temporary or chronic and recurring. People with chronic, recurrent TMJ may experience regular symptoms that can be painful and inconvenient. Sometimes the symptoms may even be disabling. Some of the more common symptoms of TMJ include:

Jaw pain
Headaches
Neck pain
Back pain
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
Dizziness or vertigo
Ear pain or fullness

Many people suffer with these symptoms for years, and try many different treatments before they realize that treatment by a neuromuscular dentist can relieve all these symptoms.

If you are in Nashville and need a dentist who relies on neuromuscular diagnostics to bring harmony to oral muscles and effectively end your dental discomfort, please contact the Center for Advanced Dentistry at (615) 383-6787 to book an appointment with Dr. Forbes.

Testimonials

The new owner of Center For Advanced Dentistry, Dr. Mckinnon Forbes has done several procedures on me when was practicing in North Carolina and I... read more

Beverly A.

I had an amazing first experience at the Center for Advanced Dentistry. I felt prioritized, taken care of, and respected as a customer. For most... read more

Noah W.

If you have dental anxiety, this is for you! In April of last year, I had to have a molar extracted (from a different dentist) and the experience... read more

Sammie U.

They deserve a 10 out of 10 from this patient!!! AHH-MAZING! We had a life changing experience for our household. When you have dental anxiety and... read more

Richelle T.

So happy to have found a dentist that feels like home :) I was looking for a holistically minded practice, and CFAD checked all the boxes. our... read more

Jamie C.

Dr. Forbes is THE BEST!!! Not only is he an expert in his field, he is personable, kind, and his staff made me comfortable at every turn. I gladly... read more

Rachel S.

I was extremely hesitant to try yet another dentist. I needed to get another opinion for my own peace of mind though, so I gave CFAD a try. I had... read more

Tamara B.

Sammie U.

If you have dental anxiety, this is for you! In April of last year, I had to have a molar extracted (from a different dentist) and the experience was quite horrible. I had already developed some dental anxiety prior to this, but this particular visit sent it through the roof. I knew I needed a new dentist and I wanted to find a holistic one who would align with my values and refer out to other practices as little as possible. I found Dr. Forbes at Center for Advanced Dentistry and scheduled a consult knowing I would eventually need an implant to replace my missing tooth. Crissy, their patient coordinator, spent almost three hours with me that first day! She was incredibly kind, great at helping educate me about the root causes of the issues going on in my mouth, patient answering all my questions, and so encouraging when I shared with her how much I struggled with anxiety when getting dental work done. Her passion for helping others in this field radiates through her and quickly helps build an immediate trust. We discussed several different options to best fit my timeline, budget, fears/anxiety, etc. I chose to have two additional teeth extracted (both were root canals that I had wanted out for years) and have implants placed in the, what would be three missing areas. At first, I had decided I wanted to be fully put under with anesthesia because I was so nervous about the procedure. But as we got closer, I started to wonder if I could do it without since it was so expensive, and overall not the healthiest option either. Dr. Forbes and Crissy encouraged me that I could do the procedure with alternative calming methods that they offer and that if at any point I felt like I couldn’t handle it, we could stop. Y’all, I don’t have the words to express the gratitude toward Dr. Forbes and the whole CAD office on surgery day. From their patience in waiting for me to be ready for them to start, to holding my hand and wiping away my tears. From Dr. Forbes communicating with me throughout the whole process, to pushing through seven hours with me in the chair to wrap up what I believe to be the best work anyone could have performed. I’m not even three days post-op and I can’t believe how little pain I’ve felt. I will never trust another dentist like I do Dr. Forbes and I can honestly say I’m less fearful now for future procedures. I look forward to the future dental work and corrections I’ve needed for such a long time! I never thought that would be possible. Thank you, Center for Advanced Dentistry!

Tamara B.

I was extremely hesitant to try yet another dentist. I needed to get another opinion for my own peace of mind though, so I gave CFAD a try. I had seen multiple friends post about them and from the look of their website and social media they looked like they aligned well with my holistic approach to health in general. Backstory: I have had a handful of dental emergencies as an adult, that always led to tooth removal. They were at traditional dentist offices that seemed to want the quick fix to everything. I believe my teeth probably could have been saved if I had known more about preventative oral health and the holistic mindset around teeth in general back then. Most dentists (at least the many that I have seen) do not educate you on full body functional health. They focus on service level in my opinion. I needed more than this. I was tired of not understanding. So I learned more about holistic options. I have a lot of anxiety seeing dentists because every visit for over a decade was always bad news. I need my bite corrected, a few implants, and some small fires to be put out. I don't need a celebrity smile like other doctors have pushed, and I very much like my smile how it is. What I need is better function of my overall health. I didn't want braces at 33 and the suggested gameplan from another doctor was many years of work. Going into CFAD today, I felt this huge weight and confusion over me. I was nervous and defeated, but I walked out empowered and confident! My consultation was more like having coffee with a friend. Crissy immediately helped my nerves dissipate with her personality and gentle demeanor. We talked for hours. The wealth of knowledge that was poured into me was exactly what I was searching for. She was very likeminded about health in general and made me feel safe to ask questions. She eased into the plan for my mouth and I never felt like she was rushing or waiting to move on to the next topic. I could have talked to her all day. She really made me completely comfortable before I even saw Dr. Forbes. So by the time he came in, I had zero anxiety. That alone is a miracle in itself, because it's never happened before. The plan for my mouth is different than I expected, but I am so excited for their expertise to be a success story for me. I actually understand the plan and why. Another first! I don't need to get braces, and it actually won't take much time at all to bring functionality back into my mouth. If you are on the fence about big dental work, I highly suggest meeting with Center for Advanced Dentistry for a consultation. I can't wait to start improving and healing my mouth with this amazing team.

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