WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT?
TMJ TREATMENT ADVANCE REDUCES COST
AND TIME FOR PATIENTS. BITE PROBLEMS
CAN NOW BE TREATED WITH COMPUTER ANALYSIS. DISCLUSION TIME REDUCTION IS FAST,
PREDICTABLE, AND COSTS THE PATIENTS MUCH LESS, THAN OTHER TREATMENT REGIMENS.
Boston - 22 years of clinical trials combined with 9 significant published studies in peer reviewed dental journals, have now given rise to a predictable and highly effective treatment for numerous bite related face, head, and neck pains. Research and clinical trials have revealed that this computer based bite treatment, known as DISCLUSION TIME REDUCTION, can rapidly reduce the symptoms of a bite disorder in a wide range of sufferers, while at the same time, reducing the need for all kinds of costly, and time consuming, symptomatic therapies. A recently published 3 year controlled bite adjustment study ( Cranio, 1997; Vol. 15(1): pp 21 - 37) performed at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, has confirmed 11 years of previous findings regarding the speed and efficacy of this computerized bite therapy.
Bite problems can cause numerous common head, face, and neck pains. Stress related behaviors can exacerbate the painful symptoms. Commonly seen symptoms that are caused by bite problems are: cheek pain and tension, jaw fatigue, chewing weakness, tension headaches around the eyes and temples, earaches, ear pain, and neck stiffness. Pain from clenching and nighttime grinding of the teeth are also bite related symptoms. All of these symptoms are considered to be muscle contraction type head pains, that are very often caused by, and related to, bite problems.
The T-Scan II System
Tekscan, Inc., a Boston based computer software company that was started by a dentist in 1984, has developed sophisticated bite analysis hardware and software, that allows the user to quickly isolate bite force discrepancies between the teeth in a way that is easily understood by the dentist. The T-Scan II, as it is called, is considerably more descriptive and precise than bite paper, when studying forces and tooth contact information. The dentist can use the computerized graphical display of these force and time discrepancies to treat these areas with accuracy and predictability. This in turn, significantly lessens numerous muscle contraction pains in the face, head, and neck.
Demographic analyses shows that over 15 million Americans suffer with some form of bite disorder. Prior to the development of this computer program and Disclusion Time Reduction treatment, patients with bite problems were forced to wear cumbersome and unattractive mouth acrylic splints. These plastic bite guards interfere with sleep, work, social interactions, and eating. However, they were all that was readily available to a sufferer of a bite problem. Because of this modern computerized treatment advance, many patients no longer need to wear, sleep with, and depend upon, cumbersome mouth splints, nor are they forced to see numerous medical practitioners. And, most importantly, the patients do not have to live with their pain.
DISCLUSION TIME REDUCTION uses state of the art computer analysis of a patients' bite to assess the time a patients back teeth are engaged in chewing or grinding function. Published studies reveal that if this time factor is prolonged, back teeth can create very high levels of muscle contractions in a patients jaw, face, head, and neck. These contractions are the main cause of symptoms like facial pain, tired jaws, grinding of the teeth during sleep, frequent headaches, and neck spasm. By shortening the time factor to under .5 seconds (hence the name DISCLUSION TIME REDUCTION through a variety of dental procedures that can be performed on the bite, these muscle contractions are effectively reduced. Symptoms often begin to abate in the first week after the first treatment appointment. Treatment time is usually 1-3 months, with a lasting effect for years in most cases. A published 9 year recall study (Cranio, 1995; 13(2):105-115) has shown that, once performed properly, Disclusion Time Reduction provides a patient with a much more comfortable life whereby most patients no longer need splints, soft food diets, chiropractors, and physical therapists. Additionally, and most importantly, long term medication use was cut by Disclusion Time Reduction in all categories of medication use (pain, anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxant, and headache) by over 90%.
Credentials
Dr. Robert Kerstein is a Prosthodontist. He graduated from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in 1983 and completed his specialty education in Prosthodontics also at Tufts in 1985. Since that time he has studied TMJ disorder at Tufts and has developed treatment, and published a number of studies about Disclusion Time Reduction. He has lectured locally and nationally about TMJ disorder and Disclusion Time Reduction.
Lecturing Experience
Due to the fact that Dr. Kerstein is a well known researcher in Occlusion and TMD, he has been a sought after speaker for some time now. Dr. Kerstein has been both a local and national lecturer about Occlusion, TMJ Treatment, Disclusion Time Reduction, and Prosthetic Dentistry. He is available to speak to dentists regionally, nationally, and internationally.
As a prior faculty member in the department of Fixed Prosthodontics, Dr. Kerstein has been a regular lecturer at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and the Yankee Dental Congress. Additionally, he has presented annually, since 1990, at the ADA National session, He has also presented to the American Equilibration Society. Presently, Dr Kerstein is available to give 1 hr., 1/2 day, or 1 or 2 day courses in TMJ treatment, occlusion, and prosthetic dentistry.
Contact Dr. Kerstein directly by phone, fax, or email.
Research
Dr. Kerstein has been researching the role that Occlusion plays in TMD syndrome since 1985. He has performed all of his studies at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. He has published in the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, Quintessance International, and Cranio. Additionally, he is a staff author for Dentistry Today (a leading trade journal in dentistry). Dr. Kerstein is "the father of Disclusion Time Reduction Therapy". He isolated this new occlusal parameter with the help of the T-Scan Occlusal Analyzer in the mid 1980's. Since that time, he has developed the concept, and a treatment, that is rapid in its healing effects of TMD occlusal problems.
He will continue to research the parameter of Disclusion Time on his own, but he is always looking for interested collaborators at any institution within the USA or internationally.
Contact Dr. Kerstein directly by phone, fax, or email.
Legal Expert
Dr. Kerstein is available as an expert witness for legal actions. He can perform record review, report writing, deposition review, radiographic analysis, and courtroom testimony. Dr. Kerstein has been performing as an expert since 1986, in the areas of medical malpractice, motor vehicle accidents, and TMJ. All services are performed for an hourly or daily rate.
Contact Dr. Kerstein directly by phone, fax, or email.
TMJ Videotape Sales
Dr. Kerstein has produced a 2 hour technique videotape that describes in detail, the clinical procedure of Disclusion Time Reduction Therapy with Immediate Complete Anterior Guidance Development. It is filmed intraorally with macrovideo lenses that allow the viewer to clearly visualize the precise occlusal adjustments required to successfully and Properly, reduce lengthy Disclusion Time. A class I, post orthodontic, Myofascial Pain Dysfunction (MPDS) patient is treated in the videotape. The videotape and the technique manual sell for $225.00 and can be ordered through Dr. Kerstein's office.
Contact Dr. Kerstein directly by phone, fax, or email.