By Bill Kuttler, DDS

March 03, 2011

 

My day spent with Dr. Jeffrey Okeson at the Chicago Midwinter Dental Meeting last week was fascinating and helpful. He is the Director of the Orofacial Pain Program at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry and has a very extensive academic background with a deep knowledge of research. As a result, I respect his opinions and information. And, as is often true at least for me, I resonated with him because I agree with his point of view.

 

Of the six hours of Dr. Okeson's presentation, he spent half of his time discussing current concepts in the causes of tempromandibular (the jaw joint known as the TMJ) disorders (referred to as TMD) that result in pain. He then reviewed various philosophies in dentistry and options for treatment in the other half of his presentation. He described five different treatment approaches based on the desired outcome for how the teeth fit and how the jaw works. This has become a very controversial topic in our profession, and treatment approaches widely vary--particularly as it pertains to the amount of treatment that is recommended in the different approaches.

 

I was delighted to learn Dr. Okeson's perspective is congruent with what I have learned over my years of study at the L.D. Pankey Institute. There I received ongoing post-graduate education in the area of restoring teeth to health and with attaining healthy jaw joint function.

 

Our approach has been research based and experience driven. We have had a great deal of success with our individualized approach, helping identify contributing habit patterns, counseling on options, and utilizing the 'less is more' philosophic approach that Dr. Okeson affirmed.

 

I especially smiled at Dr. Okeson's closing comments where he encouraged everyone to treat their patients in the same way that they would want their children, spouses, or parents treated - and that's the way we do it at Kuttler Dental!