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Spear Digest Dental Articles

TM Joint Imaging Part 2: Examining a Clinical Case

TM Joint Imaging Part 2: Examining a Clinical Case

Dr. McKee continues his examination of TM joint imaging in this blog post, discussing a clinical case for an 11-year-old patient whose diagnosis was confirmed...

| 2 months ago
Should I Be Thinking About TM Imaging?

Should I Be Thinking About TM Imaging?

TM imaging may be indicated based on the position of the patient's teeth and their level of pain. Dr. McKee addresses when to obtain TM imaging in this...

| 2 months ago
A New Dental Patient Case Study, Part 2: Diagnosis and Treatment Options
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A New Dental Patient Case Study, Part 2: Diagnosis and Treatment Options

In the conclusion to this series, Dr. Jim McKee goes through the process of diagnosing, and offering treatment options to a new dental patient with jaw...

| 1 year ago
A New Dental Patient Case Study, Part 1: The Letter

A New Dental Patient Case Study, Part 1: The Letter

In the first of a 2-part series, Dr. Jim McKee shares a letter he received from a new dental patient he was about to see—and breaks down the significance of...

| 1 year ago
TMJ and Treatment Planning: Treating Joint Issues for More Predictable Results
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TMJ and Treatment Planning: Treating Joint Issues for More Predictable Results

TMJ and treatment planning are interconnected. If a TMJ issue is discovered, having a predictable workflow for joint-based treatment planning can help....

| 2 years ago
Why Full Coverage Restorations Are Common for Second Molars
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Why Full Coverage Restorations Are Common for Second Molars

In most cases, tooth wear and tooth fracture result from mechanical overload at the tooth level because of uneven occlusal force distribution. So why...

| 2 years ago
Autogenous Fat: Preferred Material for TMJ Disk Replacement

Autogenous Fat: Preferred Material for TMJ Disk Replacement

While disk repairs are the preferred option to restore normal joint anatomy, it may not be possible with the amount of soft- or hard-tissue deformation....

| 2 years ago
Post-Pandemic Dentistry: TMD Fact and Fiction

Post-Pandemic Dentistry: TMD Fact and Fiction

Dr. Jim McKee explores why the pervasive myth behind TMD could contribute to missed diagnoses and improper treatment—and how doctors and teams can avoid it.

| 3 years ago
6 Key Factors for Getting Patients to Say “Yes” to MRIs and CBCTs

6 Key Factors for Getting Patients to Say “Yes” to MRIs and CBCTs

Dr. Jim McKee discusses the six key clinical factors that can help uncertain patients recognize the value in TMJ imaging.

| 3 years ago
Which Joint Classification System Should I Use?
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Which Joint Classification System Should I Use?

Learn how to determine when the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorder (RDC/TMD), the Wilkes Classification System and the Piper Classification...

| 3 years ago
When Dental Patients Pop the Question ‘Can You Help Me?’

When Dental Patients Pop the Question ‘Can You Help Me?’

Learn how to address TMJ issues through Dr. Jim McKee's example of a new, 34-year-old patient who presented with a history of significant dental treatment.

| 3 years ago
Patient History 101 (Lesson 4): Jaw Joint Pain

Patient History 101 (Lesson 4): Jaw Joint Pain

Having an accurate history of a patient's jaw joint pain is invaluable, Dr. Jim McKee explains in his series of articles on patient history.

| 3 years ago