Dentaltown November 2012 - (Page 64)

product profile TruDenta Complete Assessment and Therapeutic Technology Enhances Care and Practice Profitability by Shane Sykes, DMD Within the past 10 years, increasing public awareness of the result from the damaged restoration; in other cases, pain benefits of oral health and what today’s dentistry can achieve has symptoms could involve his face, jaw, ears, head and neck raised the profile of the profession from one of “drilling and fill- muscles. In either instance, appropriately treating the patient ing” to one of “care and comprehensiveness.”1 A more well-read requires a full understanding of his condition and its causes and astute dental patient population recognizes that maintaining in order to relieve the pain, prevent it long term and provide their oral health equates to better overall health. Concurrently, durable restorations.4 these individuals seek the advantageous and most often elective Until recently, dentists have been unable to address the heart (i.e., pay out of pocket) dental treatments that enhance their of the problem and, as a result, additional restorative treatment lifestyle and self-esteem, such as whitening and veneers.2 is often needed due to abnormal, poorly distributed and/or dysThankfully, a wave of technological functional forces that negatively impact the teeth.5-7 These same unmanaged and advancements has expanded dentists’ capabilities and enhanced the level of care we unbalanced muscle forces often contribute provide, making it easier to deliver preto severe, chronic pain and headaches, dictable treatment outcomes and a higher myofascial pain, tinnitus, TMJ disorders, level of service. From in office CAD/CAM clenching with or without torus formation, bruxism, tooth wear, abfractions, tooth systems for same-day restorations to softtissue lasers for gingival sculpting, and from fracture/damage, and restricted range of caries and oral cancer screening devices to motion and postural adaptations, among digital radiography, 21st century techothers. These symptoms can be collectively nologies are – when used properly – provdescribed by the term dentomandibular ing worth the investment. sensorimotor dysfunction.5,7 Of course, all of these technologies Clinically managing these conditions is ushered a paradigm shift and altered the Fig. 1: The physiological components affected by predicated on controlling pain and inflamway dentists do their work, see their role dentomandibular sensorimotor dysfunction mation, rehabilitating the system to normal and care for patients. Treatments can be function and range of motion, and stabilizfaster and more durable, and now the primary dentist and his or ing the stomatognathic system with orthopedics, orthodontics, her team can handle cases that have previously been referred out. and, if necessary, dental restorations (Fig. 1). The missing link, And, in the wake of greater attention to the link between facial however, has been the absence of equipment and methods to attractiveness and smile aesthetics, some dentists have expanded objectively diagnose these forces or systematically treat and montheir services to provide injectables (e.g., Botox, fillers) to itor patients with symptoms of muscle and force dysfunction. patients who want a one-stop makeover experience.3 Yet dentists still encounter patients driven to the practice A New Assessment and Therapeutic Technology because they are in pain, have broken a tooth or previously An innovative assessment and treatment technology is now placed restoration, or notice their gums bleeding.1 In some available for dental practices that enable an objective assessment cases, the patient’s pain could be isolated to his teeth and/or of muscle and force dysfunction, as well as pain management 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Bobrow D. Are you ready for the next wave in dentistry? The history of the public’s perception of dentistry may be viewed as consisting of three waves. dentalproductsreport.com. 2011. http://www.dentalproductsreport.com/dental/article/are-you-ready-next-wave-dentistry American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Cosmetic Dentistry Continues to Surge - Market Estimated at $2.75 Billion. December 13, 2007. http://aacd.com/index.php?module=cms&page=723 Bouck L. Injection question. Should general dentists administer BOTOX? AGD Impact. December 2008. http://www.agd.org/publications/articles/?ArtID=4468 Bakeman EM, Kois JC. Maximizing esthetics, minimizing risk: the line of predictable success. Inside Dentistry. 2005; 1 (1): 16-23. Junge D. Oral Sensorimotor Function. Medico Dental Media International, Inc.: 1998. Okeson JP. Management of Temporomandibular Disorders and Occlusion, 6th Edition. Mosby: 2008. Sessle BJ. Mechanisms of oral somatosensory and motor functions and their clinical correlates. J Oral Rehabilitation. 2006; 33:243-261. 64 NOVEMBER 2012 » dentaltown.com http://www.dentalproductsreport.com http://www.dentalproductsreport.com/den http://www.aacd.com/index.php?module=cms&page=723 http://www.agd.org/publications/articles/?ArtID=4468 http://www.dentaltown.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dentaltown November 2012

Dentaltown.com Highlights
Continuing Education Update
Howard Speaks: The Fluoride Wars Continue
Professional Courtesy: Get Out of the Office
Second Opinion: Investing in New Technology
What Are You Guys Cementing Zirconia Crowns With?
Issue with Crown Seats! Help Please!
New Products
Product Profile: The Dental Sleep Network
Dentrix G5
Corporate Profile: Officite
Excellent Communication Benefits: A Full-mouth Rehabilitation Case
Product Profile: TruDenta
The Art, Science and Numbers of Clear Aligner Therapy
Dentaltown.com Research: Endodontics
Cementation Simplified
You Should Know: OperaPager
Matching One Anterior Crown
Desired Smiles in Today’s Economy
Why We See Problems with Teeth Whitening: The Science of Whitening, Part 1
In This Issue: Garbage In, Garbage Out
Perio Reports
Ad Index
Profile in Oral Health: Paleolithic Teeth
Dentally Incorrect

Dentaltown November 2012