At Studio Mura, we offer our patients a gnathological experience with a holistic view of the human body, since the masticatory (chewing) system is regulated by the neuromuscular system of the skull and influences the entire psychophysical system.

If the balance of this system is compromised by a malocclusion, or by trauma or stress, the Studio Mura team implements a diagnostic procedure based on computerized digital instrumental analyses and complex postural assessments, in order to plan gnathological functional therapies calibrated to the patient's anatomical, muscular, and neuromuscular characteristics.

“In our clinical experience, we have observed that the recovery of a good functional craniomandibular and occlusal relationship solves pathologies that affect other parts of the body, from the head, ears, neck, and back”.
Dr. Priamo Mura

 

Bruxism and Tinnitus

Bruxism and tinnitus are often caused by stress. At Studio Mura, we have over 40 years of experience in treating these types of conditions.
Bruxism creates tension in the masticatory and facial muscles, which can then involve the ear and create annoying buzzing sounds, ringing, and tinnitus.

Mouthguards

At Studio Mura, we design and create gnathological devices (mouthguards) using a precise digital instrumental analysis, which respects the anatomical and neuromuscular characteristics of the patient.
Our patients are supervised over time through additional follow-up visits and instrumental check-ups that guide us in calibrating their mouthguards by adjusting them in relation to the reduction of symptoms and to functional improvements.

FAQ

• What is gnathology?

  This is a very complex branch of medicine that studies the physiology and pathology of the organs involved in chewing, as well as the temporomandibular joints, the neuromuscular system, jaw function, and dental occlusion.

• Who is the gnathologist?

  The gnathologist is a physician who specializes in treating painful conditions and symptoms that affect the temporomandibular joints, as well as head and neck muscles, which are often the cause of muscle-tension headaches.

• Why go to a gnathologist?

  You do so when you experience:

  • Noise in opening and/or closing your mouth (clicking)
  • Blockage and/or pain in opening your mouth
  • Reduced opening of the mouth
  • Pain in the masticatory muscles
  • Pain in the neck and facial muscles
  • Grinding (bruxism) and clenching
  • Migraines
  • Trigeminal neuralgia
  • Tinnitus
• What instrumental investigations are needed to resolve gnathological problems?

  Orthopantomography: the first assessment of the dentition, used to detect malocclusions.

  Electromyography: a simple but essential test that identifies the origin of muscle tension, the cause of neck pain, and also muscle-tension headaches.

  When additional diagnostic tests are required, we perform a cone beam CT scan, which gives us a 3D craniomandibular reconstruction of both the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) and the two dental arches (upper and lower) of the patient.

  We combine these 3D anatomical reconstructions with a digital simulator, which accurately records the patient's mandibular movements and masticatory function, in harmony with their neuromuscular system (mandibular kinematics). This individual examination is projected onto a monitor that gives us additional information and allows us to assess any potential anatomical damage and functional pathology.

  In more complex cases, when we identify a functional pathology, an MRI is needed to assess TMJ dynamics and define the complexity of the specific pathology.

• What is bruxism?

  It is the rhythmic, involuntary over activity of the masticatory (chewing) muscles. A condition that also involves the facial and neck muscles. It consists in teeth grinding or clenching and, in some cases, both. In many patients, bruxism is predominantly nocturnal. However, in some patients, it is also diurnal.

• What are the causes of bruxism?

  The causes of bruxism that are most accredited by the scientific community are stress, concentration, psycho-social distress, and anxiety.
   

• What are the consequences of bruxism?

  Those immediately perceived by patients are: facial muscle pain, ear pain, trigeminal neuralgia, neck pain, and migraines.
  In the short to medium term: abrasion, fractures of enamel or teeth, damage to the temporomandibular joints.

• Who treats bruxism?

  Doctors specialized in gnathology, who study the causes and consequences of bruxism. Some doctors also treat tinnitus.

• What are craniomandibular disorders or dysfunctions?

  They involve the neuromuscular system and are caused by the inflammation of the head and neck muscles, and the masticatory and cervical muscles (myofascial syndrome). They also involve the neuro-myofascial system and the cervical spine.

  When altered, these relationships cause a pathological posture of the cervical spine and the skull, compromising the balance of the neck and trunk muscles and the postural system, overall balance, and the auditory system (tinnitus, ringing of the ears).

  There is a close correlation between pathologies of the temporomandibular joints and those of the masticatory muscular system (myoarthropathy), since trauma to the joints, even induced by a malocclusion, can cause muscular damage and postural alterations to the skull and the cervical spine.

  This pathological picture involves the neurovegetative system.

  The most frequent causes are jaw trauma, anatomical and functional characteristics, dental malocclusion, and oral parafunctions, such as bruxism (teeth grinding) and clenching induced by stress and psycho-social distress. An individual predisposition exists with regard to the occurrence of cranialcervical-mandibular disorders.

• What is tinnitus?

  This is a disorder that is relevant to one or both ears.

• How does tinnitus manifest itself?

  It can be perceived as ringing, whistling, buzzing, pulsing, and so on.

• What are the causes of tinnitus?

  These include ototoxic drugs, acoustic trauma, mental and physical stress, bruxism (grinding teeth), clenching teeth, or malocclusions. They may occur due to bruxism when sleeping but are more severely perceived when awake.

• What is dental malocclusion?

  It is an anatomical or functional imbalance that prevents proper bite closure and chewing.

• What are the causes of dental malocclusion?

  • Misaligned teeth in the arches.
  • Missing or incongruous contacts between upper and lower jaw due to:

  1. One or more missing teeth
  2. Inadequate crowns or bridges
     • Teeth lacking contact with antagonists because they have been damaged by decay or wear.
     • Rheumatoid arthritis that has compromised the temporomandibular joint.

   

• Minimally-invasive robotic implant surgery
• Minimally-Invasive Oral Surgery
• Aesthetic dentistry
• Gnathology
• Dental hygiene
• Conservative Dentistry
• Child Dentistry
• Orthodontics
• Preventive Dentistry
• First appointment and diagnosis
• Prostheses
• Aesthetic-Functional Enhancements