FUNDAMENTALS OF OCCLUSION AND MASTICATORY FUNCTION
Figure 8. Left: an untreated, natural upper
molar. Right: an amalgam filling with distinctly
pronounced abrasionabraded facet, which may
be a trigger of CMD
Figure 10. As a possible risk factor, a poorly
designed amalgam filling was found at a
lower molar
Figure 9. This patient had tremors in the area of
masseter muscle, which he willingly could not
influence
Figure 11. According correction of amalgam
filling gave the patient a spontaneous “better
feeling” to. The tremor did not occur since then
Figure 12. A patient with muscle-related
restricted mouth opening shows as single risk
factor this amalgam filling on an upper molar
of frequent head pain within the interdisciplinary
diagnostic must also include an investigation of the
dental causes.
The same applies to the tinnitus, as very recent
studies show. In summary it can be stated that
craniomandibular dysfunction (CMD) can be used
as an expression of the dysfunctional masticatory
system. It may have diverse risk factors which may,
in part, have to be classified to be far outside the
scope of our art (Fig. 7). From the perspective of
STOMA.EDUJ (2014) 1 (2)
dentistry, when diagnostics and therapy of CMDbased diseases are concerned you will have to
think primarily of occlusal interferences, including
traumatic amalgam fillings and other fillings (Fig. 8).
Clinical patient cases
First case
This patient had for some time twitching activities
periodically occurring on both sides in the masseter
muscles, that he deliberately could not control.
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