These are treatments for muscular TMD issues that DO NOT rely upon traditional splints and acrylic appliances. These treatments are a new, more definitive way of addressing TMD issues by creating a permanent physiological change in patients with confirmed stable and adapted joints (via digital metrics such as JVA and 3-D imaging), rather than the temporary change that splint appliances create. Dr. Nick Yiannios rarely makes acrylic splints that the vast majority of dentists do, but rather relies on the following protocols when indicated for muscular-based TMD issues, in a patient with a pair of objectively confirmed stable and adapted TMJ’s.
DTR stands for Disclusion Time Reduction. This is the process whereby “interferences” or “speed bumps” in the way the back teeth from the top jaw interact with the opposing teeth from the lower jaw, during function, are precisely removed with data gleaned from the T-Scan/EMG link. This process decreases muscular output, relaxing the muscles of mastication (via instantaneous confirmation with EMG), which typically alleviates many TMD symptoms. Years ago, Dr. Nick Yiannios was personally trained by the creator of this new process, researcher Dr. Robert Kerstein of Tufts University, and is considered an expert in this process. Dr. Nick Yiannios is also a beta tester for Tekscan, the company that created the T-Scan technology.
ICAGD stands for Immediate Complete Anterior Guidance Development. Basically, the human chewing system is more efficient the faster the back teeth separate when chewing side to side, as we all naturally do. Hence our front teeth should cause a separation QUICKLY (via measurement w/ the T-Scan or T-Scan/EMG link) of our back teeth based on known values. Sometimes bonding materials are added to front teeth to help assist in a more “immediate” separation than the patient can base on the shape, condition, or position of their natural dentition.
This creates huge advantages for TMD sufferers because the muscles of mastication are made more efficient and do not produce excess lactic acid as a result of being overworked and chronically fatigued. It is this excess lactic acid buildup that at least partially creates many TMD symptoms, such as tension headaches, painful and stiff jaw muscles, neck tension, clenching and grinding of teeth, etc.
ICAGD is not a mainstream treatment as of 2015, so this is not something that you can find in just any dental practice. In just the past year, there are a growing number of TMD experts who are beginning to see the advantages and effectiveness of this process. Dr. Nick Yiannios expects that over the next 20 years this novel protocol will become more practiced and available, but presently, his practice is one of the only places where a patient can have this therapy done. From his experience with this process dating back to 2008, it simply changes the lives of muscular TMD sufferers almost every time!
So what is Neural Occlusion? Neural Occlusion is a novel TMD screening protocol that Dr. Nick Yiannios created to help him decide whether or not a particular TMD patient might predictably benefit from ICAGD Occlusal Adjustment to accomplish DTR. It involves a combination of numerous technologies (CT, JVA, EMG, T-Scan®, and sometimes MRI) combined with a thorough history, examination, and FDH screening. As of 2015, there is no other place that a TMD patient might go for this particular type of screening.
Contact our Rogers dental office today for more information about our advanced treatments for TMD.