Robert E. Bates

Atypical odontalgia: Phantom tooth pain

The findings in 30 cases diagnosed as atypical odontalgia are presented. The clinical characteristics of these cases are compared with other cases reported in the literature. Three cases are described in detail. Patient understanding and treatment with tricyclic antidepressants are discussed together with medication side effects and interactions. The importance of deferring invasive procedures is emphasized.

Temporomandibular joint disk position as determined by a simple recorder.

A method that will determine the condyle position necessary to keep the disk in place during splint fabrication has been described. The equipment used is simple and relatively inexpensive, and the entire procedure can be accomplished chairside in a matter of minutes. In those instances in which splint therapy does not result in significant improvement in symptoms, the Quick Set recorder can be used to repeat the initial condyle path recordings. A comparison of these sets of recordings can be used to determine whether the disk is in place. If doubt exists about the diagnosis, arthrography can be done to determine whether a closed locked disk position exists.

Percutaneous and mucous membrane exposure protocol in a southeastern dental school

A southeastern dental educational institution formalized a Percutaneous and Mucous Membrane Exposure Protocol in 1990. This article outlines the development, implementation, and administration of the protocol including risk assessment and rationale for testing health care workers and source persons. Pretest and posttest counseling for HIV testing is also discussed.

Fabrication of Easily Reproducible Occlusal Splints

AbstractOcclusal splints have been used for many years and for many dental problems. The ability to easily fabricate occlusal splints which are accurate and require a minimum of chair-time is an important consideration.This article describes a method of occlusal splint fabrication which will produce an occlusal splint that meets the above criteria and also allows for duplicate splints to be easily made. During the process of fabrication, a mold of the splint occlusal form is made which can be used at a later date to reproduce the original splint. This will reduce inconvenience for the patient and reduce the dentists chair-time.