|
|
Treatment: PHASE I
|
| Goals |
- To eliminate pain.
- To prevent further joint breakdown.
|
| How do we accomplish these goals? |
- Decompress
the temporomandibular joints.
- Establish an optimal fossa / articular disk /
condyle relationship.
- Establish an optimal posterior joint space.
- Promote symmetry of structures.
- Reduce inflammation in joint space.
- Decrease joint vibrations.
- Facilitate balancing and proper sequential
firing of the muscles of mastication.
- Strengthen the ligaments and tendons that stabilize
the articular disk.
- Establish an optimal vertical dimension.
- Improve the facial profile.
- Promote a "temporal shift".
- Facilitate the "Pterygoid Response".
- Stabilize the mandible during sleep.
- Reduce clenching and bruxing.
- Eliminate jaw "locking".
- Promote remodeling of the temporomandibular
joints.
|
| Modalities Used in Phase I |
-
Maxillary and mandibular orthopedic appliances.
- Arthrocentisis / prolotherapy.
- TENS.
- Iontophoresis.
- Physical Therapy.
- Nutritional supplements.
|
|
|
|
