Every TMD Patient Should Consider the Following When Choosing a Dentist

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Every TMD Patient Should Consider the Following When Choosing a Dentist:

1. By what TMD and occlusal philosophy does the dentist understand and practice? (bio-psychosocial vs. bio-physiologic).
2. Does the dentist use measuring instrumentation to objectively determine a physiologic jaw position? (just because a dentist uses technology doesn’t always mean they understand the bio-physiologic principles of TMD and occlusion).
3. How skilled and able is the dentist in managing the occlusion? (What courses and training have they taken to understand the importance of micro occlusion)? Details matter, especially if you can feel a human hair between your front teeth.
4. Does the dentist understand and practice all three disciplines of: 1) TMD pain management, 2) restorative/prosthetics and 3) orthodontic/orthopedics? Some dentists mainly focus on TMD and restorative. Others have orthodontic and orthopedic understanding. Some others only focus on one of the above, but may not have complete understanding of all three (TMD, complex restorative and ortho/orthopedics together). The background and clinical experience in each of these areas will affect the way your case is perceived, understood and handled. It does make a difference!
5. Not all dentists are trained equally in occlusion. Some chose to experience BASIC neuromuscular (NM) training. Other clinicians have advanced themselves through additional time, commitment and training over and above and beyond the basic NM (“physiologic”) studies to learn gnathological skills applied to neuromuscular principles (GNM).
6. Does the dentist believe in both gnathologic as well as neuromuscular principles? (just because a dentist says they have NM understanding doesn’t always mean they understand NM or practice it optimally – inquire what they mean when they use the terms “neuromuscular (NM)”, “Physiologic” or the “GNM” (gneuromuscular term). Terms have meaning and imply many key things about their education and practice methods.
7. What is the dentist’s philosophy and method to which he/she “stabilizes” TMD pain problems and symptoms in Phase I? (splints, anterior deprogramming appliances, upper or lower appliances, NM orthotics, GNM orthotics)? Ask what it means to be stable? (Pain free, comfortable, no muscle and bite problems, off medications?)
8. Ask yourself, “Am I stable and comfortable enough to move forward into phase 2 therapy without relapsing back into pain and discomfort?”
9. Ask the doctor, what does he/she consider objective measured parameters of “stability” before proceeding and how would he/she determine these parameters of stability for you?
10. What is the philosophy and understanding of the dentist when the patient should consider moving forward with Phase II finishing therapy? (what specific approach and method will the dentist use to maintain your comfortable bite and accurately transition your bite to a final finishing bite position? Will the dentist and lab change the position after you are stable and comfortable from phase I therapy?).
11. What type of courses, training and what levels of course has the dentist recently taken in Occlusion to really understand the issues of cervical, TMD, class II division 2 (retro inclined maxillary incisor) jaw problems and or anterior open bite problems?
12. Does the dentist know how to properly adjust your bite to get you comfortable and stable?
13. Ask your dentist if he/she has updated their education and training at OC (Occlusion Connections™, Las Vegas, NV – the Home of Advanced GNM learning and understanding with Dr. Clayton A. Chan).