Tag: tmj treatment atlanta
-
Bite splint improves Tennis Performance
It is always a compliment when a patient volunteers to write a testimonial, and here we have just received on about how her bite splint improves her tennis performance. We are so proud of your success, and thoroughly impressed that you would use this experience to write about in your college essay! In the patients’…
-
Splint design on Neck outcomes: Dr Caughey speaks at the GDA Annual Meeting
As a 17 year long member of the Georgia Dental Association, Dr Caughey attended at the GDA Annual Meeting in an enjoyable way; sharing community and learning with local colleagues. This year Dr. Caughey was invited to speak to the audience on the relationship of bite splint designs and their effect on the cervical spine (neck)…
-
Splint for Scissors Bite
Making a splint for a patient with a scissors bite follows the same principles as in most other cases. A scissors bite is also called a buccal cross bite, wherein the maxillary molar is more than halfway across the mandibular molar; the lingual (tongue-side) cusp of the upper molar is touching the buccal (cheek-side) surface…
-
PT to Dentist Referral
First and foremost, many patients demonstrating symptoms of R TMCC patterning will NOT need dental intervention! But it is helpful to know how to recognize those who will. We hope this stepwise chart will aid in decision making. STEP 1: LOCATION OF SYMPTOMS FROM HISTORY Headache – almost always! Neck pain – possibly. Depends on…
-
Splint for Gag Reflex
The idea of wearing a lower bite splint is a challenge for patients with a significant gag reflex, particularly if their gag reflex is stimulated by anything touching the side of the tongue. The Gag Reflex (or pharyngeal reflex) is a hypersensitivity to anything touching the muscles involved with swallowing – the soft palate, the…
-
PRI Lecture: Splints effect on Necks
It was a complete honor to be asked to lecture about the effect of a splint on a neck at the 2017 PRI annual symposium. While I have been practicing and teaching splint therapy at the Pankey Institute for 10+ years, the exact effect that these dental bite splints has on the neck is not commonly…
-
PRI speaking engagement!
I’ve been busily pouring through the available scientific literature in preparation for this Annual Symposium in April 2017. What amazes me is the vast nature of the literature – scientists spending their lives investigating a subject from so many different angles. As a community, we are getting closer all the time to understanding what keeps…
-
Bite splint requires Molar Support
A bite splint requires molar support, and particularly at the most distal tooth location. However, due to the shape of the upper and lower jaws’ relationship to one another, this is the portion of the bite splint that most frequently becomes thin and brittle, and thus, broken. Below is a case of fractured acrylic over…
-
ALF as Airway Appliance
Can an orthodontic appliance like the ALF serve to open the airway? We think so! This diagram shows the anatomical relationship between the roof of the mouth (palatine and maxillae bones) and the base of the nose. If an ALF Advanced Lightwire Fuctional appliance can gently spread these maxillae and palatine sutures,…
-
Splint Repair and Tips
Ideally the splint is designed to prevent failures from happening. But when they do, it is good to be able to understand how and why the failure occurred, and to know what to do about it. Splint repair and tips to prevent failure are helpful to predict and manage the occasional difficulties in splint therapy. Understanding…
-
JVA: Screening tool for TMJ Dysfunction
The JVA is a screening tool for TMJ Dysfunction. The Joint Vibration Analysis is an instrument resembling a set of headphones, but instead of listening to music, it listens to the jaw joints. A healthy jaw joint creates very little friction, whereas a damaged joint is noisier. Depending on the type of vibration created, a…
-
Splint for Canine Transposition
Canine transposition means the canines are in the position of missing lateral incisors — or in the switched position of upper premolars. This rare but non pathologic variation of tooth position can be challenging to determine how the biting forces should be spread across the teeth. In general, a splint for canine transposition can be managed…
-
Advanced Lightwire Functional (ALF) Appliance
I spent the past 2 days in ALF (Advanced Lightwire Functional) appliance training with Dr. Mike Hoefs. Dentistry in America is continuously recognizing new heroes, who have bravely look at the way the teeth are connected to the rest of the body — Dr. Hoefs is one such hero of mine! Wow! The science behind this…
-
Splint for Posterior Open Bite
Patients managing an airway problem with night-time use of a mandibular advancement device may develop a posterior open bite. Attempting to reapproximate the posterior teeth in this occlusal distortion involves mandible retrusion and OA flexion, thus reversing the natural lordosis of the neck. Accurately mounted study models taken after the cervical curvature has been supported…
-
Sphenoid position | Splint design
Sphenoid position is a prominent feature of a R TMCC positional pattern. In that position, the greater wing of the sphenoid is more superior on the Right side, than on the Left. Without regard for the position a patient is in (R TMCC versus neutrality), even the most conscientious dentist will adjust a bite splint…