An eye-opening article to be published shortly in the journal Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine

Occlusal problem to relieve TMD symptoms

How Accurate Are Dental Websites When It Comes to TMD?
We thank Karen Raphael, Ph.D., New York University College of Dentistry for providing us with this written summary.
In an eye-opening article to be published shortly in the journal Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology, authors Desai, Alkandari, and Laskin address the critical issue of the accuracy of information published on dental websites about the cause and treatment of temporomandibular disorders (TMJ/TMD).
In their review of over 250 dental practice websites sampled throughout the U.S., the authors found that nearly two-thirds represented general dentists who nevertheless advertised themselves as “TMD specialists.” Even more frustrating was that the information posted on these websites was often incorrect. Regular readers of TMJ News Bites and the TMJA website undoubtedly know that so-called TMD or TMJ problems consist of a complex set of genetic and biopsychosocially mediated causes, but many websites referred to these problems as if they were a single disorder with a single cause. Over two-thirds of the websites referred to ‘bad bite,’ ‘malocclusion’ or similar terms, implying that occlusal problems were the cause of TMD. This ignores a long-standing body of research rejecting old theories of occlusion; that is, a belief that the way that the upper and lower teeth meet when biting down causes TMJ problems. More than half of the websites recommended treating the so-called occlusal problem to relieve TMD symptoms. In point of fact, such treatments are not supported by research, and have been strongly condemned by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. These findings emphasize the danger posed to patients by trying to learn about TMJ or any health condition by relying on website information posted by practitioners. In light of trends found in this new article, the research-informed information provided by The TMJ Association becomes more than essential in order to fight web-based marketing ploys filled with outdated and blatantly wrong information about the cause and appropriate, safe care of TMJ problems.

Discussion

Robert Johnson
I hate when people talk about ‘the bite’ and ‘occlusion’ like getting that right is going to solve anything…especially when >95% of the population has a maxilla that’s too narrow, too far down, and too far back and unless you’re going to do something about that I’d really like to know what your magical ‘perfect’ bite is supposed to look like.

Ken Kokin
That’s interesting. I went to no less than 6 medical professionals who specialize in TMJD. and the one that finally showed me a means for ending the pain has put acrylic on my lower teeth to open my bite. My TMJD is 90% better and sometimes 100% we haven’t built an appliance or put crowns to hold the position but we are close to pulling the trigger. He says that he’s been able to resolve 99% of his patients TMJD issues with occlusion adjustments.

Julie Vandervelde-Moll
The more I read the more false information I find and it isn’t just on web sites. There are people selling therapies that are not backed up by science. There are patients being told flat out lies and half truths. This whole experience of 30 years has ruined my belief in our medical system because I have been let down lied to and been an unwilling guinea pig!

Bjørn Hogstad
I read this article and have some questions
First of all medical knowledge has been expanding so fast and there is so much information Even about minute conditions and lesions that it is impossible for one person to know it all.
Thats the reason why there have been created medical and dental specialities. A specialist focus in on a small area of medicine / dentistry and they know a lot about about that particular area. But there is a risk as you expand your knowledge in one small area you risk gradually loose the total perspective of the over all picture.
Because you are a specialist or professor in one does not necessarily give you a ticket to always beeing right, no matter what medical subjectes comes up even outside your area of expertice. The more you know in one area there is a risk that you might gradually loose the over all picture.
The body is one organism and all parts are connected. You have a primary malfunction in one part and it gives secondary effects in other parts which again give a domino effects in other parts.
First of all Why is it that a lot of the current standing in TMD state that TMD have a phsycosomatic cause and disregard obvious physiological and mechanicsl causes? If the primaryr cause of TMD is phsycosomatic how do you then explain how an occlusal splint give relief of pain in jaw, head, neck and back?What mechanicsl is involved If this is the platform ?
It is wise to remember that that the body is one organisme .
It is also wise to remember that as time progresses that scientific views and what is hold to be true changes. What we know today and know to be true will not be so to morrow. And the pendulum swings over time from one view to another.

Kate Carpenter
I was blissfully ignorant of the tmj world, despite that i had tmj pain in my muscles and monthly migraines. For 30 years, I really did not do much and did not need to, tried several splints along the way but none helped. When i started a job with a long commute, i and a flare up. Both my kids had finished with college and i thought, I should address my migraines and TMJ to do something for myself. I was referred to a dentist by another dental professional and he said i was not having migraines, i was having dental issues and my bite needed to be relaxed into its optimal position. So i followed the advice and its almost killed me, both my spirit and my body. Bjørn Hogstad, it does not matter how fast knowledge changes, no dentist website should say they have the remedy. Period. Here is an example of misleading advertising. I thought it was this simple….i could have NM denistry work and i would not need to take tylenol or migraine medication anymore.

Bjørn Hogstad
Kate. nobody can promise to cure you completely anf give relief after treatment. Those who says so are either very ignorant, or they are not franckly telling the truth. Or thery have a crystal bowl in whioh they can predict the future, A chronic pain patient that turns up in our practices has a multitude of connected and nonconnected issues. Treating chronic pain patients is one of the most demanding areas of medicine / dentistry and it require that the dr is humlbe and take the necessar time to examine annd treat. There is no shortcuts!! Treatment takes time! If you have had chronic pain a long time it is totally unrealistic to expect a quick fix is going to aleviate the pain. It also requires a commitment form the patients to follow through on the dr,. recommandation regarding home procedures like physical exercise , streching of the muscles etc.

Kate Carpenter
Bjørn Hogstad, thank you! The treatment took months, and a year of follow up, but everything, every step along the way I was worse off. (except i did get muscle relief with the orthodic, prior to the restorations for 6 weeks) My original pain was very minor compared to what this “treatment” has caused me. I had a migraine once a month and TMJ flare ups and limited opening with a narrow jaw. While some of the flare ups were bad, I was never in chronic pain. I had a successful career, traveling all over the country while working 80 hours a week and loving it. I also supported my family. Whatever issues I had, I should never have touched them as i was highly functioning. I have now experienced a level of pain and discomfort, neurological problems and dysfunctiont that i would not wish on my worst enemy, if I had an enemy. I also do barre and pilates but can’t balance enough to to do yoga now, I paddle 15 miles a week and I do gentle rebounding and balance board work and streching, I have cranial therapy once a month. And i did much more exercise BEFORE and I struggle now to keep up with my former self. mostly because i could not breathe with all this stuff in my mouth. I think being in perpetual motion has really helped. What triggered me to finally do something about the TMJ was i had an opportunity with an international firm and took on a long commute where i was in a car 3 plus hours a day, and had a flare up given that my workouts became very short on days i was on the road..I have worked since i was 5 and put my self through college and grad school and I am aware there are no short cuts, I just was not prepared to be thrown over a cliff. I have a team now and things are heading North, I just hope nobody has to go though this!

Maria Diniz
Robson Alessandro Cruz Fernandes tudo igual lá ou ka n é? muito profissional que se diz especialista em dtm só p lucrar …

Lidia Yavich
Exercising english ..Maria Diniz and Robson Alessandro Cruz Fernandes

Robson Alessandro Cruz Fernandes
Kkkk …. tarefa árdua imposta pela Maria nessas leituras.