Home | About OC | OC Masterclass Training | Course Schedule | Registration | Accommodations | About Dr. Chan | Doctor Education | Patient Education | Finding a GNM Dentist | Scientific Truth | Dr. Chan’s Articles | Dr. Chan’s Blog Notes | GNM Dentistry | Contact Us
Read both parts of this series:
The American Academy of Dentistry emphasizes a standard of care that’s focused on delivering high-quality, ethical treatment with patient safety and well-being as top priorities. It involves staying up-to-date with the latest advancements and guidelines in the field, ensuring comprehensive diagnosis, clear communication, and informed consent. This standard guides dentists to provide consistent, effective, and compassionate care across all aspects of dental practice.
The American Dental Association (ADA) defines the standard of care as the level of care and expertise that a reasonably prudent dentist would provide under similar circumstances. This includes:
- Evidence-Based Practice: Following the latest research and clinical guidelines.
- Patient Safety: Ensuring a safe environment and taking reasonable precautions.
- Informed Consent: Clearly communicating with patients and obtaining their consent before treatment.
- Timely Care: Providing treatment in a timely manner.
- Comprehensive Care: Addressing all aspects of the patient’s oral health.
The ADA emphasizes that the standard of care can vary based on legal definitions and community practices, but it generally revolves around what is considered reasonable and prudent in the dental profession.
A Lineage of Specialists Practicing General Dentistry
As far as I am aware Dr. Jim Garry a pillar and Legendary doctor in Neuromuscular Dentistry was a board certified Pediatric dentist. Among our Occlusion Connections (OC) doctors we also have a board certified periodontist highly achieved Dr. Jennifer Cha. There might be other specialists among us we are not aware of that gave up their SPECIALIST license to be able to practice general dentistry voluntarily. The beauty of being a general dentist is that you can treat any dental patient without the restriction of a SPECIALIST license. We treat any patient with TM joint dysfunction and other dental concerns that a general dentist is allowed to practice not necessarily limited to oral facial pain. The approach we are taking both neuromuscular and gnathology are time tested. Myotronics company and Dr. Robert Jankleson has gone through many years of legal battle with FDA and won the case. Dental J5 TENS and the K7 are both FDA approved dental devices.
Two Time-Tested Traditions: Neuromuscular and Gnathology
Neuromuscular Dentistry has been practiced in the United States for 57 years. The term was introduced to the dental profession by Dr. Bernard Jankelson in 1967. Dr. Jankelson’s pioneering work laid the foundation for this field, which focuses on the relationship between the teeth, jaw joints, and muscles to diagnose and treat temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and other orofacial pain conditions. Dr. Bernard Jankelson has been recognized as the “Father of Neuromuscular Dentistry”.
Gnathology is an approach many prudent dentists have been practicing with for over a century. Please check out who BB McCollum and Gus Swab are and what are their approaches in regards to occlusal harmony. I came from this lineage of teaching. My mentor was Dr. Philip Taylor a student of Dr. Gus Swab. I studied under him for 2 years just on gnathology.
Gnathology, the study of the masticatory system (including the jaws and teeth), has been practiced in dentistry in the United States for over 100 years. The field was formally established in the 1920s, with Dr. Beverly B. McCollum often credited as the “Father of Gnathology.” He founded the Gnathological Society in 1926, and significant advancements, such as the development of the McCollum Gnathoscope in the 1930s, helped solidify gnathology as a crucial area of dental research and practice.
You all are also under this prestigious lineage. In either aspect what is it that we practice that is not to the standard of care?
Why Measurement Is Not Above the Standard of Care
We objectively measure, analyze and assess following a scientific methodology in our diagnosis. Most dentists and dental specialist don’t measure. There is nothing wrong with scientifically measuring bio-physiologic responses of our patients. Some seem to have a problem with those dentists who measure and test. We use measurements according to standards that are based on millimeters and microvolts. Just because a group of dentists might have a different approach or way of doing things or even a different philosophy does not mean that we are not practicing to the “Standard of Care”.
As general dentists, we have the right to practice according to one’s belief, just as any endondontist, prosthodontist, orthodontist, implant specialist, pediatric dentist, even the Orofacial Pain Specialist, etc. We have the right to practice our convictions. Just because we GNM minded doctors measure jaw relationships, muscle activity, occlusal balance and joint sound conditions using their K7 and J5 dental TENS doesn’t mean that we are not practicing to the standard of care. That is the misnomer and the attack on those of us who do. OC GNM dentist believe in these occlusal principles of scientifically measuring to aid in our diagnosis and prior to implementing a mode of treatment. Gathering objective data helps us to assess and determine what is wrong and what is right with our patients. As dentists we do everything that every other dentists does according to the standard of care and more!
OC teachings and practices are nothing but above the “Standard of Care” which are considered reasonable and prudent.
Clayton A. Chan, D.D.S. – Dentist
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard of care in dentistry?
The American Dental Association defines the standard of care as the level of care and expertise that a reasonably prudent dentist would provide under similar circumstances. The standard includes evidence-based practice, patient safety, informed consent, timely care, and comprehensive care. It varies based on legal definitions and community practices, but it generally revolves around what is considered reasonable and prudent in the dental profession. The standard is not defined by a single specialty’s preferred framework — it is defined by what a reasonable practitioner would do.
Does using objective neuromuscular instrumentation violate the standard of care?
No. Surface EMG, jaw tracking, electrosonography, and J5 Dental TENS are FDA-cleared dental devices. The K7 Evaluation System has held the ADA Seal of Recognition and Seal of Acceptance. Using these instruments to measure mandibular position, muscle activity, and joint function meets the standard of care — it does not violate it. A clinician who measures objectively before treating is doing more than what the standard requires, not less.
How long has neuromuscular dentistry been practiced?
Neuromuscular Dentistry has been practiced in the United States for 57 years. The term was introduced to the dental profession by Dr. Bernard Jankelson in 1967. Dr. Jankelson’s pioneering work laid the foundation for this field, which focuses on the relationship between the teeth, jaw joints, and muscles to diagnose and treat temporomandibular disorders. Dr. Bernard Jankelson is recognized as the Father of Neuromuscular Dentistry.
How long has gnathology been practiced?
Gnathology, the study of the masticatory system, has been practiced in the United States for over 100 years. The field was formally established in the 1920s. Dr. Beverly B. McCollum is often credited as the Father of Gnathology — he founded the Gnathological Society in 1926, and the development of the McCollum Gnathoscope in the 1930s helped solidify gnathology as a crucial area of dental research and practice. GNM dentistry stands within this lineage.
Why do some dentists claim that GNM is “outside” the standard of care?
The claim is a misnomer. General dentists have the right to practice according to their convictions, just as endodontists, prosthodontists, orthodontists, implant specialists, pediatric dentists, and orofacial pain specialists have the right to practice according to theirs. GNM dentists measure jaw relationships, muscle activity, occlusal balance, and joint sounds using FDA-cleared instrumentation. A philosophical preference for not measuring does not establish a standard that excludes those who do. The structural and historical analysis of how this confusion became codified institutionally is examined in Dentistry Without Occlusion: A Profession Redefining Itself Out of Its Foundation →.
🔹 Standard of Care and Evidence
- What is the Standard of Care? – Part 2 →
- Refuting TMD Guideline Misconceptions about NM Occlusion Part 1 →
- Refuting TMD Guideline Misconceptions about NM Occlusion Part 2 →
- The Controversy: How Effective is the Neuromuscular Occlusal Approach in the Diagnosis and Treating TMD →
🔹 The Framework Distinction
- What is TMJ? →
- Prevalent Philosophies of Treating TMJ →
- Psychosocial vs. Physiologic: Clarifying the Diagnostic Divide in Orofacial Pain →
- Psychosocial Anti-Instrumentation Perspective – What is Their Treatment? →
- Dentistry Without Occlusion: A Profession Redefining Itself Out of Its Foundation →
🔹 The Original Science Behind GNM
- Why OC is Different — The Original Science Behind GNM Dentistry →
- SCIENTIFIC TRUTHS: Bio-Physiology & Objective Measurements →
- The Science Behind GNM — Evidence, Research & Objective Measurement →
- Gneuromuscular vs. Neuromuscular Dentistry →
- What Does the K7 Technology Measure? →
🔹 The Lineage of GNM
- Defining Occlusion →
- GNM is Not the Same as NM →
- The Difference Between GNM Dentistry and NM Dentistry →
- James F. Garry, D.D.S. – Biography →
🔹 Finding a GNM Trained Dentist Near You
🔹 Ready to Train
Last Updated: May 7, 2026
Written by Clayton A. Chan, D.D.S. — Founder and Director, Occlusion Connections | Las Vegas, Nevada
6170 W. Desert Inn Road, Las Vegas, Nevada 89146 | Telephone: (702) 271-2950
Leader in Gneuromuscular Dentistry