Pathways of Occlusion
Saturday, February 20, 2010 with Jay Harris Levy, DDS
"Mastication is performed by jaw muscles that generate large forces across very short distances and apply them via rigid teeth. Such large forces can easily damage the teeth and supporting tissues such as the tongue and cheeks unless they are controlled precisely and effectively." Kemal S. Turker PhDThe longevity of the teeth and the success or failure of most restorative dental treatment relies on the dentist having precise control of the surfaces of occluding teeth. Mechanoreceptive feedback from prior tooth contacts and proprioceptive feedback from muscles and joints, programs the pathways that the jaws and teeth follow en route to succeeding tooth contacts. The form of the occluded dentition is often altered when a dentist restores an occluding tooth. The dentist may inadvertently restore a tooth surface causing it to have different occlusal contacts and contours than its preoperative condition, essentially altering the tactile experience of the patient and reprogramming occlusal pathways, which may lead to detrimental oromotor behaviors such as bruxism or clenching.
The roadmap for beneficial reprogramming of unstable occlusal pathways can only be drawn after acquiring a solid understanding of the neurophysiologic and biomechanical processes that underlie masticatory function. The goal of this course is to provide participants with this understanding. Clinical cases will demonstrate how to use this information to choose appropriate treatment options to restore stability, comfort and health to the mouth.
Topics to be covered include:
• What vital and nonvital teeth are able to feel.
• How jaw muscles are controlled by the central nervous system.
• Why endodontically treated teeth and dental implants are handicapped.
• The biomechanics of friction, tooth wear and anterior guidance.
• The requirements of a stable occlusion.
• Clinical treatment options for restoring occlusal stability.
Speaker: Dr. Levy maintains a private dental practice in Portland, Oregon. His dental practice focuses on occlusion, restorative dentistry and temporomandibular disorders. Dr. Levy attended Union College where he received a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. He received his dental degree from New York University and served on the faculty as an assistant professor. Between 1982 and 1999 he maintained a private dental practice in New York City. He served on the faculty at Oregon Health and Science University as an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Biological Structure and Function, Prosthodontics and Community Dentistry. He completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in neurophysiology at the Oregon Health and Science University and received a Certificate of Training in Human Investigations from the School of Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University. Dr. Levy's sensory-physiology research program has explored the mechanosensory mechanisms that underlay mastication. He regularly presents CE courses that focus on the physiology and biomechanics of occlusion.
When : Saturday, February 20, 2010
Course : #DNOC022010 Lunch & Parking Included
Time : 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Credit : 7 hours
Early Tuition Fees: Until 1/31/10 - $165.00 per Dentist / $120.00 per Staff
Tuition : After 1/31/10 - $195 per dentist & $140 per staff
Location : OHSU Continuing Dental Education
