If you have a question regarding neuromuscular dentistry or NM occlusion concerns, our group will do our best to answer them. Send it to clayton@drclaytonchan.com.
Don't Feel Embaressed
I have been practicing a Jankelson/Myotronics NMD (Neuromuscular Dentistry) mixed in with hard core gnathologics for over 13 years now. I have spent eight of those more recent years teaching extensively thousands of advanced dentist and specialist around the world who have sought serious answers to serious questions regarding the occlusal challenges that have haunted them since dental school training. Admit it! We never learned the science of occlusion adequately to meet the challenges we face in todays real world of clinical (in the trenches) dental practice. Don't feel embarressed. It's OK. I may have the answers you are looking for.
Some of you have educated yourselves in various programs and still desire to further your skills, awareness and understanding of NM and classical post graduate dental teachings. I believe the answers will slowly unveil themselves right here from this site as you stay tune and keep in touch as I continue sharing my passion and perspectives.
This Is a New Season ....!
How Many Times Do You Adjust the Bite Before Problems Erupt?
What do you do when your patient is returning back to your office numerous times after you equilibrated the bite? Do you keep adjusting more teeth or do you give them an elequent exiting referral and admit you don't understand their problem?
Are they beginning to complain of temporal headaches and facial/masseter and neck soreness that they did not formerly experience? Are they experiencing ear congesting/stuffy ear feelings and or clicking and popping in their jaw joints that did not previously exist? Guess what? There is a clear connection between the bite adjustments you performed, muscles and the condyle/disc positioning within the TMJ's.
The following are just some questions we have answers to to meet the demands of refined clinical dentistry.
How Do You Use the Myomonitor?
The sole purpose for the TENS Myomonitor is to relax the masticatory muscles. It is a non-invasive modality that either the patient, support team and or clinician can easily use. The J5 Myomonitor comes with 3 leads that connect silicone gel surface electrodes which are simply place bilaterally over the coronoid notch (ground leads) and in the middle of the upper neck (common lead). Synchronized bilateral pulse levels are usually around 4-6 on the amplitude dial, just enough to produce a 0.5-1.0 mm rise of the mandible. 45-60 minuets of TENS stimulation will begin to produce a therapeutic response of muscle relaxation.
Are EMG's Really That Important in Clinical Dentistry?
Although great emphasis has been placed on electromyography to scientifically validate objectively physiologic muscle activity in the scientific community, I have found that it is not always required when establishing a physiologic bite relationship "Clinically". I use habitual resting EMGs to document the base line status to assist in my overall "diagnosis" and use functional EMGs to validate "treatment" effectiveness. I do not rely on resting EMGs to determine my bite position since they do not give me the definitive location to establish a bite. CMS jaw tracking is a far better tool to visualize a specific position and location of the bite then resting EMGs.
Where Can I Learn More About NMD?
Where Can I Learn More Advanced TMJ Problem SolvingTechniques?
Stay tune and connected! We will post locations and dates in the future, but for now if you have questions, don't hesitate to comment and blog your thoughts.
How Do I Coronoplasty the Bite?
Hands on demonstration is really the best way to visualize and see how I do it. But for now, first establish the myocentric bite position, land the dots as I have instructed in previous courses in the past.
Note the bilateral point contact DOTS that are balanced to the neuromuscular position. Precision is required in order to calm the hypertonic muscle activity of those patients with high level of detailed proprioception (ie. clencher/bruxers, TMD paining patients).QUESTIONS:
Are You Accommodating Your Dentistry to Worn Down Dentition?
Is Worn Down Dentition Dictating Your Type of Dental Practice and Are You Accommodating Your Style of Practice to Routine Dentistry vs. Optimal Care?
What is the Difference Between Equilibration, Coronoplasty and Micro-Occlusion Management?
What is the Significance of Proper Head Balance and the Occlusal Plane?
Pathologic or Physiologic Occlusal Plane? How Do You Relate the Maxillary Cast to the Articulator to Avoid Long Term Pitfalls in Your Full Mouth Reconstructions?
Why is TENSing Important Before Taking a Bite Registration? How Do You Properly Use the K7 To Capture a Myobite? Is it Necessary?
How Do You Take A Proper "Chan Scan" 4/5? Ask Chan
Designing a Comfortable Orthosis and How to Properly Fabricate the Orthosis?
How to Properly Deliver the Orthosis to Your Patient for Optimal Resolution?
Can the Dentist Orthopedically Verticalize the Posterior Teeth Without Surgery and Correct a Skeletal Class II Relationship?
The answers to all these questions area answered at my Advanced Courses. (Click Advanced Neuromuscular Clinicians - "Advanced Problem Solving for the Complex Cases" and “Micro-Occlusion/Coronoplasty – Level II” ) for course dates and location.
