Advanced Diagnostic Principles: Diagnostic Principles Course with Dr. Clayton A. Chan

ADVANCED DIAGNOSTIC PRINCIPLES - Level 2
Level 2 Seminar and Training

Description: “Diagnosing the Mandibular Position”
Prerequisite Course: Fundamentals of Physiologic Occlusion - Level 1

Diagnosis - Key to Establishing the Physiologic Bite

Comprehensive diagnosis has multiple meanings depending on the clinician’s perspective, but to the neuromuscular minded clinician it means seeing dentistry from a broader perspective of physiologic health rather than a mechanical point of view. A philosophy of life and how one views his or her patient’s concerns during the examination process will help distinguish your dental practice from others. Understanding the etiology of the many musculoskeletal occlusal signs and symptoms in depth will bring to light aspects of dentistry that are often missed when doing an examination. Comprehensive dentistry goes beyond, teeth, muscles and joints, but ability to six dimensionally correlate symptoms with etiologies that affect the patient’s life. Confidence is built with comprehensive treatment planning that makes sense to the patient. Having this knowledge, perspective, and insightful diagnostic awareness will take the examination process to another level.

Level 2 is an interactive course designed to enhance the dentists’ inquiring mind to discover the meaning and etiology of the complaint. An introduction to baseline measurements using EMG, CMS and ESG as additional aids to understand the physical findings will be presented. Participants will learn radiographic imaging evaluation of the craniomandibular, TM Joint, airway and cervical neck regions.

Course Objectives:

To give dentists a systematic protocol to becoming capable diagnosticians who understand the orthopedic and functional matrix of the stomatognathic and neuromuscular systems.
Provide the clinician with the confidence to make a sound diagnosis prior to rendering treatment.Developing patient “relationship”
Giving the clinician precise principles and protocols that are required to complete a comprehensive examination that go beyond the usual and customary examination process.
Listening and observing the patient without an agenda
Screening the patient
Forensic evaluation and record gathering process
Life’s philosophy and perspective of being a professional.
Understanding occlusal classifications and their implications to diagnosis and treatment planning.
Distinguishing between asymptomatic non-paining TMD patient versus the symptomatic pain TMD patient.
Upper arch deformaties – Anterior open bites, unilateral and bilateral cross bites.
Etiology and meaning of musculoskeletal occlusal signs and symptoms.
Radiographic film interpretation and TMJ evaluation
Photography - Importance of the camera and photo documentation
Muscle Evaluation using Electromyography (EMG) and EMG Interpretation
Review the progress and use of the lower anatomical NM orthosis as a diagnostic aid

You Will Learn:
You will learn what records to take and what the examination findings mean. In addition you will be introduced to K7 instrumentation and how to incorporate this knowledge with the optimized TENS bite.

What to do at the first appointment – “What I do and what I say”.
What records are necessary to be a comprehensive professional
How to interpret these records and their meaning·
How to effective screen your craniomandibular compromised patient
What photographs to take
How to do a muscle palpation examination
How to interpret TMJ, cervical films and cephalograms
15 characteristic problems to avoid in screening your patients – by Dr. Chan
Understanding the clinical implications of:

Dental Class I, II, III
Skeletal Class I, II, III
Anterior open bite, unilateral and bilateral cross bite
Asymptomatic non-paining TMD patient
Symptomatic paining TMD patient

Introduction to K7 diagnostic scans – how to implement it
How to schedule for diagnostic K7 work up
Implementing the lower anatomical NM orthosis as a diagnostic aid
Occlusal adjustments and bite management of the removable orthosis.
How to get your patients to see the value and benefits of comprehensive treatment planning.
How to handle patients with poor bites who do not have the finances

Comments About Level 2 Course:
"Dr. Chan was fabulous, well organized, on topic and informative....a study club atmosphere...excellent presenter and engaging." - Dr. Byron Blasco, Las Vegas, NV

"The diagnostic principles presented were fantastic and very thorough. They completely saved me yesterday with a new patient that has bounced around to many dentists and endodontists over the past 3 years complaining of pain that could not be diagnosed. She was almost resigned to “just having to live with it” and came to me for one last opinion. If I had not taken the time to collect the proper data (TMJ questionnaire, Sonography and visual exam) as well as PULLING information from the patient I would not have been able to assign her complaints to TMD. I was able to give the patient hope and feel confident that I can help her! I appreciate the orthopedic approach to diagnosis and treatment that Dr. Chan is teaching and highly recommend this course." - Dr. Gregg Ueckert, Austin, TX

"A must for all NM docs. As most of you may know last week we had our first Level 2 "Diagnostic Principles" course at OC. The growth of knowledge may be compared to the ever-expanding ripples that are set in motion where a stone is dropped into a quiet body of water. Last weekend for the first time I witnessed significant concepts of etiology, functional pathology, differential diagnosis, behavior of joints, muscles and bones, and scan interpretation, never thought before in this amazing course. The conception, implementation, development , and ultimately delivery of the material in this course was achieved through the combined efforts of some of the pioneers of NMD such as Jim Gary, Bob Jankelson and a great deal of Dr Chan's long time research and proven clinical experiences. The material was presented in a logical sequence, systematic and provided us with the pertinent information to perform a proper diagnosis and with confidence. As I said before this course is a must for all NM docs." - Ramin Mehregan, D.M.D., Canton, MA

"Given my years of experience, I am always amazed at how much I learn form Clayton at every step of my journey. Russell's content was a pleasant surprise. There are few who can create an environment of learning so relevant, so engaging, so well presented....Clayton has succedded to do this in spades." - Lawrence Stanleigh, B.Sc, M.Sc., D.M.D., Calgary, Alberta