Studies show that around 10% of patients in dental practices suffer from craniomandibular dysfunctions (CMD) that require treatment. These patients therefore occur in every practice. The incidence of patients with bruxism is even higher. Not recognizing those affected can be just as unpleasant for patients as it is for dental practices.
Dentists are therefore faced with the challenge of recognizing functionally conspicuous patients in order to decide to what extent these patients should be treated in their own practice and when it makes sense to refer them for co-treatment. In view of the limited university training in this area and the complexity of the procedures to be used as well as the patients and clinical pictures, this decision will be different for each practice.
Therefore, every dental practice needs a structured concept for identifying those affected, as the basis for an individual decision on the appropriate treatment pathway. The seminar teaches exactly this concept. It starts with identifying those affected using appropriate screening tests (CMD screening, bruxism screening index, if necessary tooth wear screening). If the result is “positive”, the lecture describes the subsequent steps: a bruxism splint for bruxism or, alternatively, multi-stage functional diagnostic examinations if CMD is suspected (clinical functional analysis, manual structural analysis, model fabrication, registrations, condylar position analysis, movement recording and analysis, and the treatment concept based on this). Depending on the physician’s competencies, the team’s level of training, and the practice equipment, each practice can then decide which steps it offers and in which cases a referral is made. The seminar describes the process chain and outlines the respective technical requirements and the specifications of the relevant guidelines.