Archive
20 Years of Pain Banished by a Dentist
As clinicians dealing with chronic pain patients we spend a lot of time diagnosing TMD problems, guiding them through the various phases of treatment and trying to get them to change habits that have developed over a lifetime. It can be difficult to work out just what is happening while stomatognathic structures gradually heal and change, so that we can get a bit bogged down in our own concerns and lose sight of what the patient is also going through in these very challenging cases. We need to be equally aware of what the patient is going through and any psychological support they might require to help them through what can at times be a frustratingly slow process. I thought it would be useful to share a patient report that illustrates these points.
Nature’s Appliance – tongue and cheeks acting to keep the teeth from touching
Playing with Vertical Dimension? Know the Rules!
There’s a great position paper on the subject of when, how and by how much it is OK to change the Vertical Dimension of Occlusion (VDO) from M. Rebibo et al of the Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille HERE
There is a discussion of the myths around whether one can or cannot increase or decrease VDO and a very useful chart (Table 2) showing the effect that a change in height at the molars will have on position of the incisors and the incisal pin of the articulator. There are also several very interesting case presentations, including the use of occlusal equilibration alone to close down a significant anterior open bite. Please read the article and comment below if you have any questions of observations.
I might put a few similar cases of my own up if there’s sufficient interest, or if you have some photos and a case report you are prepared to share and have discussed please send them to me and I will publish them on here for you.
Andy
Bruxism Awareness Week Lecture Special Offer
This year’s Bruxism Awareness Week lecture entitled “NTI-tss Therapeutic Protocol – Traumatic Occlusion and Bruxism” will be delivered by Dr Barry Glassman one of the world’s leading authorities in the management of TMD, Migraine and dental sleep medicine and very popular speaker in the USA.
This prestigious event will be held at the Royal College of Physicians in London on 24th October 2011.
S4S are sponsoring the event and have agreed to provide all our SDS Occlusion Blog subcribers with a special booking package which includes your place at the event and a Kit of 5 NTI splints (worth £105.00) all for a 20% discounted rate of £280.00 (normally £350).
To take advantage of this offer book online HERE, select the “special offer booking package”, use discount code “CWK” and mention which kit you would like in the “order notes”. Alternatively you can call S4S on 0114 250 0176.
SDS Instructors
Roy Higson and Andy Lane
SDS Occlusion Blog 