Frequently Asked Questions
About Neuromuscular Dentistry (4/4)
WHY Use Myotronics Electromyography?
This is another field that was pioneered by Myotronics with its inception of the first commercial dental SEMG unit in 198L The Company has led the way since by producing a series of advanced EMG technologies in the dental and medical fields. Accurately processing the minute signals detected through the skin is a technical challenge requiring complex circuits that reject extraneous electrical "noise". The Myotronics technology has become the "gold standard" in the dental and medical fields. The authors of the definitive clinical SEMG text in the medical field chose the Myotronics SEMG technology in their book Introduction to Surface Electromyography. The Myotronics system allows you to record up to eight muscle sites simultaneously, and play them back in a variety of ways for study and patient education.
WHAT Is Electrosonography (ESG)?
ESG is most commonly called "sonography" and sometimes "joint vibration analysis". It utilizes computer based vibration sensitive transducer technology that quickly and non-invasively records joint sounds and vibrations originating in the temporomandibular (TM) joints. The patient wears a lightweight headset that positions two sensors over the joints. The technician instructs the patient to open and close, and in just a few minutes valuable information about joint function is captured for analysis.
WHY Use Sonography?
Bone transmission of sound is so rapid that unilateral study of joint sound with a stethoscope may not even discern which side the sound is coming from. Further, sounds studied in this manner are subjective and not documented. Data captured by means of sonography not only record joint sounds from both TM joints simultaneously, the information can be played back at will. The dentist can analyze this recorded information in a number of ways that may yield additional insight regarding joint status and joint function. The test can be used as a very quick assessment of joint status and to document patient response to treatment.
Bracco, P, Deregibus, A, Piscetta, R, Giaretta, GA TMJ Clicking: A comparison of clinical examination, sonography, and axiography. J. Cranio. Practice, 15:2, pp 121-126, 1997
Heffez, L. and Blaustein, D., Advances in sonography of the temporomandibular joint. J. Oral Surg. Oral Med. Oral Pathol. 62:486-495, 1986
Hutta, LJ, et al, Seperation of internal derangements of the temporomandibular joing using sound analysis. J. Oral Surg. Oral Med. Oral Pathol. 63:151-157, 1987
Thomas, NR, Thomas, MR, The Fallibility of MRI Assessment as a gold standard in the diagnosis of craniomandibular dysfunction arising from macrotrauma. Anthology of Intl. Coll. of Craniomandib. Orthoped. Vol. V, pp. 141-145, 2002
Watt, D., Temporomandibular joint sounds. In Gnathosonic Diagnosis and Occlusal Dynamics, Praeger Publishers, New York, NY, 1981
WHY Use Myotronics Sonography?
Introduced in 1989, the Myotronics ESG is the only system to incorporate transducers calibrated to a vibration measurement standard. These high quality devices are capable of picking up even small sound vibrations from the tissue overlying the TM joints - diagnostic sounds that less sensitive systems fail to detect.
HOW Do I Learn More?
To learn more about Neuromuscular Dentistry and about continuing education programs in your area, contact Myotronics at 1-800-426-0316 or visit our website at www.myotronics.com.
Dr. Molly Rodgers, General Dentist - Providing services in cosmetic dentistry to the area of Edmonton Alberta, Canada.
