Finding the Right Answers

Practicing dentistry usually requires taking a few moments and listening to your patients. To earn their trust, you have to solve the right problems. The obvious answer is not always the correct answer. A broken tooth, for example, may not simply be the result of an unfortunate bite of a hard pretzel, but could be a symptom of a bigger problem such as a temporomandibular disorder (TMD). In this issue of Compendium, several articles focus on dental pain and muscle disorders. Often, as discussed in the Kois Center Case of the Month, we can resolve our patients’ problems when we address underlying issues.

In our first CE article, biomechanical and occlusal principles are applied in the restoration of an eroded anterior dentition. The authors demonstrate the use of conservative centric relation and Dahl principles to treat a challenging case involving limited palatal clearance along with palatal erosion and wear. The article shows that when warranted, use of noninvasive additive approaches should be considered before opting for traditional full-crown coverage.

Our second CE features a discussion of TMDs and the complexity of diagnosing and managing this condition, which often requires multidisciplinary treatment. With the help of didactic and hands-on training, dentists can gain a thorough understanding of how to conservatively treat TMDs and provide patients with frontline temporomandibular/orofacial pain therapy.

On a solemn note, the dental community lost a great colleague and advocate in Dr. Frederick Anthony Curro (Rick), who passed away on March 31, 2017, at the age of 73. Dr. Curro had a long and distinguished career as a dental researcher, pharmaceutical industry executive, and academician. Even long after his retirement from New York University’s School of Dental Medicine, he remained committed to the advancement of healthcare, most notably through the PEARL Network. A loving and devoted husband and father, Dr. Curro was a true friend to the Compendium and AEGIS Communications. We will sorely miss him.

Sincerely,

Louis F. Rose, DDS, MD
Editor-In-Chief
lrose@aegiscomm.com