The Last Occlusion Course You Will Ever Need

December 6, 2024 8:30 AM - 05:00 PM (EDT)

The Last Occlusion Course You Will Ever Need

2024 VAGD Annual Conference

The Westin Hotel, Richmond, VA

December 6th, 2024

Course- 8:30am-5:00pm

Course Description and Objectives:

This is the ONLY occlusion course you will EVER need to take! MANY OF THOSE TEACHING OCCLUSION ARE LEARY OF THAT STATEMENT.

WHY? Because throughout the years the concept of occlusion — using empirically derived anecdotal evidence — has been made complicated. Rules that are indeed “hoops” through which we must jump to create “ideal occlusions” have been established. Time is spent on adjustable articulators equilibrating and tripping occlusions. And yet there are those with abominable occlusions that feel and function well; and others with more ideal occlusions in pain and with dysfunction. OCCLUSION MATTERS — but WHY and WHEN is important.

The course will provide the basic information to diagnose and effectively treat joint dysfunction and many orofacial pain conditions. Although basic commonly used agents will be reviewed, this is NOT a course in pharmacology. Our goal is to learn to determine how disorders occur and why they remain persistent, thereby allowing us to treat more efficiently and readily within the scope of our general dental practices. This is a basic course in practical TMJ anatomy and physiology and TMJ dysfunction and chronic pain issues. Diagnosis and treatment of these disorders emphasizing proper control of parafunction will be reviewed. Learning the myths of occlusion can be both enlightening and exciting. No longer will you be burdened by the myths. Imagine the sense of freedom associated with improved care with red recognition of the truth.This information is essential to all practicing dentists and will be immediately helpful in your daily practice. Learn an exciting new protocol using parafunctional control. Explore the various potentially confusing occlusal therapeutic concepts. Review diagnostically driven therapy utilizing splint therapy and supportive therapy. Explore the dentist’s role in headache therapy.

We all have had patients complain about a tooth which is painful, but for which there is no evident dental or periodontal cause. We all have had patients who experience muscle pain after a procedure, or question why their joint clicks and ask what can be done about it.  And we all have been taught concepts about occlusion and dental “interferences” that sometimes seem logical – and sometimes do not. Often these concepts cause us to treat patients in ways that make “sense” to us – in the face of evidence that does not provide the clarity that we have been taught to believe it would provide. This course will look closely at that evidence – and the truth about the key role of occlusion will be revealed.  This revelation is not only exciting, but also eye-opening, and, most importantly, potentially helpful with EVERY patient we treat.

This course will review orofacial pain and neuropathic pain concepts, including the role of the well-advised dentist in the treatment of headache and neck pain. Understanding that it is nonsensical to call “migraine” a symptom of “TMD,” we will explore the incredible way a dentist can play a major role not only in migraine pain, but also all orofacial pain patterns in a real and practical way. To help attendees diagnose and treat pain patterns that don’t seem to have obvious peripheral causes, the course will focus on the important distinction between site specific acute pain patterns and chronic pain patterns. We will look at anatomy and physiology and then joint dysfunction — learn how things “get that way” and “why they stay that way,” and then proceed to understand realistic approaches to help patient with joint pain and joint dysfunction!

APPLIANCE DESIGN:

 WHEN TO USE AN APPLIANCE?

 WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE APPLIANCE (AND NO — IT IS NOT TO

POSITION THE CONDYLE TO RECAPTURE THE DISK!!)

 HOW TO EVALUATE THE SUCCESS OF THE APPLIANCE 

 WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS OF APPLIANCE USE?

 WHY ARE NIGHT GUARDS OFTEN NOT WORN — AND WHAT IS THE

MECHANISM OF THE APPLIANCE OF CHOICE?

THIS IS A COURSE IN REALITY—PRACTICAL AND

EVIDENCE BASED

Designed to take the Confusion out of this

Critical Subject Matter for the General Dentist!

LEARN

 When occlusion matters – and more importantly, when it doesn’t!

 Why we NEVER diagnose “TMD” and how to use more specific diagnostically

driven therapy.

 Design of occlusal night guards – when to make them – and more importantly,

when not to!

What is the most common cause of non-compliance of night guards and how to

avoid that problem.

 Why occlusal night guards can cause headaches and joint pain!

 Practical anatomy and physiology of the joints and muscles – and why they

matter!

 Headache and migraine pathophysiology and treatment that can truly change

your patient’s lives!

 The myths of dentistry that never really made any sense anyway!

 Why do some patients with cross bites and other malocclusions present with pain

and others don’t.

 That Travel’s concepts of interferences causing lateral pterygoid spasms have

been debunked and replaced with a more reliable model. Learn the “Adaptive

Theory Model” and begin to apply the concepts immediately.

 What causes those nasty clicks; and what to do and when we need to do it!

 What joint position should be considered when contemplating major dentistry –

you’ll be surprised!

 Practice management concepts that could change your life and help you enjoy

dentistry even more!

 To diagnose and understand chronic pain patterns – so that dental pain without a

clear cause is more readily understood and treated and not blamed on the

“pathologic articulating paper dot”!.

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Dr. Barry Glassman

Dr. Glassman is Diplomate of the American Board of Craniofacial Pain, Diplomate of the American Academy of Pain Management, a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, and a Fellow of the International College of Craniomandibular Disorders. He served on staff of the Lehigh Valley Hospital network as clinical instructor in Craniofacial Pain and Sleep Disorders in the General Dentistry Residency program and as the Co-Medical Director of the St. Lukes Headache Center. Among his recent publications are The Effect of Regional Anesthetic Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block on Self‐Reported Pain in Patients with StatusMigrainosus in HEADACHE, and The Curious History of Occlusion in Dentistry in DENTALTOWN. He teaches and lectures internationally on orofacial pain, joint dysfunction, and sleep disorders.

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Event Details:

There is ample, free parking in front of the facility.

Registration opens at 8:00 am, courses to begin promptly at 8:30 am.

Continental breakfast, coffee, soft drinks, and water will be available throughout the day.

Lunch will be provided.

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Event Cancellation Policy: In the event that an in-person meeting is no longer a safe option, full refunds will only be given up to 30 days before the course. If the course is held as scheduled and a refund is requested within 30 days of the course, a credit will be applied to the registrants account for use toward a future VAGD program.

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