OCCLUSION DENTISTRY AND TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT DISORDER

Occlusion dentistry studies the contacts between the upper and lower teeth. They should be aligned in a certain manner so that the teeth eventually bear the same pressure.

Temporomandibular joint disorder occurs when there are incorrect relations between the teeth of the two dental arches. Consequently, any constitutive element of the oral cavity and face can bear the consequences and get damaged. For instance, the teeth can wear and become painful, the gums and the bone that support the teeth shrink, muscles become painful and the joints start making noise during mastication, yawning, etc. Inexplicable head-, ear- or eye aches may appear. All these problems can be cured or improved by restoring correct relationship between teeth and/or wearing mouth guards. Also drug treatment, kinetotherapy and physiotherapy can be associated.

In our clinic, these complex treatment procedures are performed by Dr. Smaranda Buduru, PhD in Medical Sciences in Temporomandibular Disorder, head of the Department of Occlusion Dentistry and Temporomandibular Dysfunction with the School of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca.