Occlusion has been a topic of debate among dentists for decades. Bruxism, clenching, sleep apnea, Temporo-Mandibular Disorder (TMD), are often misunderstood and misdiagnosed, and patients go doctor to dentist, to specialist, to alternative treatments, and don’t ever get better. Combined with the challenge that we (as dental professionals) can’t even agree when it comes to the correct mandibular or condyle position in 3 dimensions, how can we possibly assess, manage, and treat the complicated conditions that come with attempting to treat these type of patients?
In order to solve our patients’ challenges and create an appropriate design for an appliance, we first need to know what to look for, understand how each sign and symptom tie together, and how to present solutions based on what the patient and the clinician want to achieve.
This webinar focuses on the causes and progressive degeneration of parafunction and TMD, the various ways occlusion contributes, and how to prevent, manage, and treat each type of patient. From clenching, bruxism, to difficult and debilitated patients, this webinar addresses and develops this puzzling topic in a systematic process that provides answers and solutions to some of the most complex issues we face today.
Learning Objectives
After completing this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Identify how to assess patients and design customized appliances for each particular dysfunction
- Describe what to look for and how it ties in to the patient’s signs and symptoms
- Recognize how the patient’s unique condition evolved over time
- Determine the specific reason the patient did not improve with past attempts at treatment
