Nonpainful phantom sensations in dentistry: an update of etiologic concepts.

Various phantom disorders have been discussed extensively in the medical literature, the most common being phantom limb pain. However, phantom conditions have not received much attention in the dental literature. This article provides a topical review of relevant literature to update current thinking on the etiology of various nonpainful phantom phenomena involving the oral cavity, traces the evolution of these concepts, and offers practical patient management recommendations for dentists. Educating dentists about these phenomena will enable them to avoid extensive, time-consuming procedures that seldom resolve their patients' chief complaints.

Orthodontics and the temporomandibular joint: What orthodontic providers need to know.

Currently, there are three major groups of dentists who provide orthodontic services to the public: postgraduate trained orthodontists, postgraduate trained pediatric dentists, and general dentists who have taken various orthodontic training courses. All of them can expect to encounter a variety of clinical situations that require a proper understanding of how normal temporomandibular joints (TMJs) function, and also how the masticatory system can develop pain-dysfunction problems; those problems are classified and defined as temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). In this paper, six "intersections" between these groups of practitioners and those clinical situations will be discussed, with an emphasis on practical approaches to managing problems that may arise during orthodontic treatment. Specific recommendations are offered to help clinicians recognize clinical problems and to deal with them successfully.