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Spear Digest Dental Articles

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...

| 6 months 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...

| 6 months 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...

| 1 year 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....

| 1 year 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.

| 2 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.

| 2 years ago
Red Flag-Maxillary First Premolar Extraction for Orthodontics
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Red Flag-Maxillary First Premolar Extraction for Orthodontics

Discover why it's important to look for undiagnosed joint issues when dental patients present with maxillary first premolars extracted for orthodontic...

| 3 years ago
Evidence-Based Dentistry: How Good is the Evidence?

Evidence-Based Dentistry: How Good is the Evidence?

Many of the concepts taught in occlusion and TMD are unsupported in the literature and are in direct conflict with literature in peer-reviewed journals,...

| 3 years ago
Should I Image Before Making an Occlusal Appliance?
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Should I Image Before Making an Occlusal Appliance?

Discover when to image a patient's TMJ before fabricating an occlusal appliance.

| 4 years ago
What Makes Muscles Hurt?

What Makes Muscles Hurt?

When patients present with muscle pain, there may be reasons other than occlusal interferences that do not resolve with traditional therapy.

| 4 years ago
Redefining Occlusion
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Redefining Occlusion

Defining occlusion based only on tooth position has its shortcomings. To offer patients appropriate treatment, occlusion evaluation should consist of...

| 4 years ago
How Do We Approach Cases With Clicking Jaw Joints?
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How Do We Approach Cases With Clicking Jaw Joints?

When a patient comes into your office asking about their clicking jaw joint, do you have a plan of action?

| 5 years ago