Dr. Clayton Chan, DDS, MICCMO
Subject: “Gneuromuscular Occlusion – Is It The Missing Link Between TMJ and Comprehensive Restorative Dentistry?”
Session Description:
Optimal occlusion is relevant to physical, physiologic and biological laws that govern articular and “gneuromuscular” function at all structural levels of the human body as well as the masticatory apparatus. A rigid mechanistic concept of masticatory function is not consistent with generic physiologic knowledge. General laws of homeostasis support the desirability of analysis of maxillo-mandibular posture from optimal muscle relaxation in order to remove the torques, skews, strains and imbalances when establishing a terminal contact position. Dr. Chan will discuss how he approaches and treats his TMJ/CFP patients using scientific methodology when applying comprehensive restorative techniques required to stabilize the dysfunctional masticatory system in the clinical dental practice.
Dr. Shelly Weiss, MD, FRCP(C)
Subject: Pain or Not Pain? Evaluating the Cause of Childhood Sleeplessness
Session Description:
Children and adolescents with acute or chronic pain (whether it is craniofacial or another source) frequently report sleep disturbance. In order for the clinician to appropriately evaluate, treat and know when to refer these patients, it is important to have an understanding of children’s sleep patterns and an approach to childhood sleep disorders. In this session, a case-based approach will be used to develop knowledge in the care of children and adolescents with complaints of both pain and sleep difficulties.
Dr. Richard Bonato, Ph.D., M.A., RPSGT
Subject: An Introduction to Instrumentation, Methodology and Psychophysiology of Sleep
Session Description:
This lecture will deal with fundamentals of sleep psychophysiology with emphasis on the evaluation, treatment, and monitoring of snoring and sleep disordered breathing. The role of dentistry for the evaluation of nocturnal airway patency will be discussed within a clinical workflow. Attendees will learn details about instrumentation and methodology which will be directly applicable to everyday clinical practice.
Dr. Paul C. Hébert, MD, FRCPC, MHSc (Epid)
Subject: Multidisciplinary Research and Care – Get on The Wave.
Session Description:
Health care and research are changing. Both are far more complex than times past. Health professionals have access to more therapies available provided by a greater number of specialized health professionals. Patients are also surviving longer with a greater number of complex chronic illnesses. As a consequence, models of care have shifted significantly over the past century, and will continue to change in the coming years. We will need to move away from our current acute-care model of healthcare. Instead there should be an emphasis on disease prevention and proven health promotion interventions. The management of complex chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma and obesity is much more effective when done in an interprofessional setting, as is caring for those with mental illness.
In research, we are witnessing a revolution. We are moving from an era of a lone scientist working in her laboratory and making ground breaking discoveries. Major programs and centres are developing multidisciplinary teams where scientists and clinicians work together on major challenges. Finding the cause and useful, easy to ease treatments for common complex diseases like diabetes needs significant resources and a different approach. With the sequencing of the human genome and a Canadian discovery, stem cells, we will witness a new era in therapeutics –regenerative medicine and personalized medicine. Discoveries will come from major research teams, with immunologists working with surgeons, molecular biologists working with interventional cardiologist and stroke specialists. The era of multidisciplinarity is upon us – in the delivery of health care and research.
Dr Hebert will be discussing some of the professional and societal reasons underlying the need for multidisciplinary care and research. He will also describe barriers to establishing functional multidisciplinary teams and practical approaches to overcome them.
Mr. Kent MacLeod, B. Sc., Pharm
Subject: Body Chemistry Balancing and the relationship between chronic inflammation, pain, sleep disorders and blood/urine chemistry
Session Description:
Body chemistry balancing involves the assessment of sex, adrenal and thyroid hormones, insulin, neurotransmitters, macro-and micro-nutrients and bowel function. An imbalance of any of these biochemical factors can cause disturbances in the neurochemistry essential for regulatory pathways involved in pain, inflammation, sleep and mental health. However, these associations are often overlooked. With body chemistry balancing, the patient benefits from an evidence based “natural solution”, using diet and nutrition. When pain is severe, compounding can be used to deliver drugs targeted to specific pain pathways while reducing risks.
Dr. Eldon Tunks, MD, C.M. (Psychiatry), FRCP(C)
Subject: Simple Effective Behavioral Strategies For Pain management
Session Description:
Effective intervention for persistent pain usually requires methods to address behavioral, emotional, and cognitive factors. Techniques compatible with a single-practitioner practice include applied relaxation, assisted relaxation, pacing techniques, self-monitoring, or paradoxical intention, for example. Other techniques appropriate to a team approach include group cognitive-behavioral therapy, and comprehensive pain management programs (psychoeducation, cognitive-behavioral methods, active exercise, relaxation and stress control, work reintegration). This presentation will describe and illustrate several of these approaches.
Dr. Robert Kerstein, DMD
Subject: Computer-guided Occlusal Analysis and Treatment of the TMD Patient
Session Description:
Computerized occlusal analysis technology has repeatedly shown since 1989 that occlusal factors have a primary role in the etiology of muscular TMD symptoms. Posterior Disclusion Time measures the elapsed time that posterior teeth disengage during excursive function. Electromyography has shown that prolonged Disclusion Time elevates excursive masticatory muscle activity while building the lactic acid ischemia that causes MPDS syndrome.
Computer-guided Disclusion Time Reduction treatment, removes the lactic acid and the MPDS symptoms physiologically. This course will describe the neurophysiologic etiology of muscular TMD symptoms
