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Spear Digest Dental Articles

What Is Centric Relation?
Occlusion & Wear

What Is Centric Relation?

Centric relation involves patients whose condyle-disc assembly involves 'normal joints fitting into normal sockets.' But often, that's not the case.

| 1 month ago ›
A New Dental Patient Case Study, Part 2: Diagnosis and Treatment Options
1
Occlusion & Wear

A New Dental Patient Case Study, Part 2: Diagnosis and Treatment Options

In the conclusion to this series, Dr. Jim McKee goes through the process of diagnosing, and offering treatment options to a new dental patient with jaw...

| 1 year ago ›
A New Dental Patient Case Study, Part 1: The Letter
Occlusion & Wear

A New Dental Patient Case Study, Part 1: The Letter

In the first of a 2-part series, Dr. Jim McKee shares a letter he received from a new dental patient he was about to see—and breaks down the significance of...

| 1 year ago ›
Why Full Coverage Restorations Are Common for Second Molars
1
Occlusion & Wear

Why Full Coverage Restorations Are Common for Second Molars

In most cases, tooth wear and tooth fracture result from mechanical overload at the tooth level because of uneven occlusal force distribution. So why...

| 2 years ago ›
Autogenous Fat: Preferred Material for TMJ Disk Replacement
Occlusion & Wear

Autogenous Fat: Preferred Material for TMJ Disk Replacement

While disk repairs are the preferred option to restore normal joint anatomy, it may not be possible with the amount of soft- or hard-tissue deformation....

| 2 years ago ›
Post-Pandemic Dentistry: TMD Fact and Fiction
Occlusion & Wear

Post-Pandemic Dentistry: TMD Fact and Fiction

Dr. Jim McKee explores why the pervasive myth behind TMD could contribute to missed diagnoses and improper treatment—and how doctors and teams can avoid it.

| 3 years ago ›
6 Key Factors for Getting Patients to Say “Yes” to MRIs and CBCTs
Occlusion & Wear

6 Key Factors for Getting Patients to Say “Yes” to MRIs and CBCTs

Dr. Jim McKee discusses the six key clinical factors that can help uncertain patients recognize the value in TMJ imaging.

| 3 years ago ›
Red Flag-Maxillary First Premolar Extraction for Orthodontics
1
Occlusion & Wear

Red Flag-Maxillary First Premolar Extraction for Orthodontics

Discover why it's important to look for undiagnosed joint issues when dental patients present with maxillary first premolars extracted for orthodontic...

| 4 years ago ›
Evidence-Based Dentistry: How Good is the Evidence?
Occlusion & Wear

Evidence-Based Dentistry: How Good is the Evidence?

Many of the concepts taught in occlusion and TMD are unsupported in the literature and are in direct conflict with literature in peer-reviewed journals,...

| 4 years ago ›
Should I Image Before Making an Occlusal Appliance?
1
Occlusion & Wear

Should I Image Before Making an Occlusal Appliance?

Discover when to image a patient's TMJ before fabricating an occlusal appliance.

| 4 years ago ›
What Makes Muscles Hurt?
Occlusion & Wear

What Makes Muscles Hurt?

When patients present with muscle pain, there may be reasons other than occlusal interferences that do not resolve with traditional therapy.

| 5 years ago ›
Redefining Occlusion
1
Occlusion & Wear

Redefining Occlusion

Defining occlusion based only on tooth position has its shortcomings. To offer patients appropriate treatment, occlusion evaluation should consist of...

| 5 years ago ›