Broad support sought for emerging specialty of orofacial pain.

The American Dental Association is considering giving the emerging field of orofacial pain full status as a new dental specialty. Many recent advances in the neuroscience of orofacial pain have lead to treatments by orofacial pain dentists that provide significant relief for patients with chronic disorders. However, access to this care has been limited, leaving many patients to continue to suffer. Recent efforts to improve this situation by developing the field into a specialty have received broad support among dentists and have increased awareness of the benefits this field can provide for dentists and their patients.

The relationship of tinnitus to craniocervical mandibular disorders.

Patients with craniocervical mandibular (TMD) disorders can present with tinnitus as a primary or secondary complaint. The embryology and functional anatomy of the middle ear, temporomandibular joint, muscles of mastication and associated tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, nerves and lymphatics was found to be helpful in establishing etiologic concepts which relate tinnitus to these temporomandibular disorders. In addition to etiologic concepts, treatment modalities are described. The authors relate their experiences as well as those of others with different patient populations.

Gelb appliance: mandibular orthopedic repositioning therapy.

The authors discuss the philosophy, fabrication, and use of the Gelb appliance. They recommend the appliance for daytime use for anterior displacements with reduction, unloading of the temporomandibular joint, and cervical muscular dysfunction where mandibular displacement is a perpetuating factor. This chapter also details their clinical protocol for diagnosis and appliance management.