Different Dental Appliances (Ep 8) of Open UP: A TMJ Discussion

In this Episode:
- Once again, Pam and Mac shared stories of how inadequate their dental school training was when it came to TMD and its appliances.
- Pam was told about the “nightguard” but that’s all. She never made one with an instructor to guide her. It wasn’t until in private practice that she made them for those with badly worn teeth.
- Mac’s history was zero information in dental school but heard about “nightguards” in dental trade magazines and dental labs. It was the blind leading the blind.
- Both Open Up and discuss the ridiculous “POP” which stands for Piece of Plastic that was almost worthless for most people.
- A properly made Neuromuscular Orthotic is lightyears above a night guard and Mac explains how by using prescription glasses as an analogy.
- Mac discusses his history of using different appliances over several decades including a Midpoint (Lucia Jig, NTI, Kois Deprogrammer) and the Tanner appliance, what worked, why they worked on some bite issues but not on others.
- What separates TMD dentists like he and Pam from the other dental camps like Pankey, Dawson, Kois, Spear, AAOP, etc. was discussed.
- Both believe all dental camps need to come together to find their likeness and share success’s to the benefit of the pain patient.
- Pam shares experiences of interacting with a person in the medical profession that once again reinforced the fact that dentistry has failed the public due to TMD unawareness.
- Mac discusses how sleep dentistry is changing the mindsets of the different TMD camps, yet the other camps and other medical professions cannot see and recognize the destruction the deficient maxilla can cause.
- We discussed OTC appliances both good and bad.
- Phase I and Phase II treatments plus the different types of surgery, including MMA, was discussed.
- The importance of finding the right jaw position prior to any permanent change was stressed.
- Changes in TMD unawareness is coming from the NIH, TMJ Association, and the American Academy of Orofacial Pain (AAOP) all working together for you the pain patient.
Important Links:
Website TMD Link: marzbandds.com/tmj/
Dr. Pamela Marzban's book on Craniofacial Development: www.amazon.com/Craniofacial-D...
Treatment of adult TMJ starts with a highly trained Neuromuscular dentist as described in Dr. Mac Lee's book: www.amazon.com/Life-Robbing-P...