CE dental courses - Courses for dentists - TMJ Course

The Real Reason Your Restorations Need Repeated Adjustments - Occlusion Uncovered

Course Overview

Many restorative complications do not come from the restoration. They come from the system that the restoration is placed into.
Occlusion cannot be fully understood by looking at teeth alone. Joint stability, muscle behavior, and functional pathways dictate how bites settle, how contacts change, and why some restorations need repeated adjustments even when the dentistry is accurate.

This webinar teaches dentists how to see occlusion through the lens of TMJ health so they can diagnose the true cause of shifting bites, premature contacts, repeated high spots, and restorative failure. Participants will learn how joint instability influences occlusion, how muscle patterns alter functional loading, and how to evaluate occlusal findings with clarity and confidence.

Real clinical examples illustrate why some bites never feel stable, why adjustments do not hold, and how to identify the key diagnostic findings that predict the long-term success of restorative and orthodontic cases.

What You’ll Learn:

1. Why do restorations need repeated adjustments and what is the real cause behind shifting bites

You will learn why many bite discrepancies come from joint instability rather than tooth movement or inaccurate dentistry. You will understand how small changes in joint position alter occlusal contacts and how this creates ongoing adjustments that never seem to resolve.

2. How can dentists tell whether a high spot is a tooth issue or a joint issue

You will gain a step by step diagnostic process that evaluates joint loading, muscle activation, occlusal patterns, and functional movement. This helps you determine whether the bite change is driven by occlusal anatomy or by instability in the TMJ.

3. What are the earliest signs that occlusal problems are coming from the joint and not from the restoration

You will learn to identify subtle indicators such as bite shifts, new muscle tenderness, early deviations, changes in guidance, intermittent high spots, morning discomfort, and fatigue when chewing. These signs point to joint based instability and predict future occlusal changes.

4. How do muscle patterns influence occlusion and why do some patients feel “off” even when the contacts look perfect

The course explains how muscle compensation changes functional load and how these patterns can create premature or inconsistent contacts. You will learn how to evaluate muscle balance and link it to occlusal findings in a predictable way.

5. How should dentists evaluate occlusion when TMJ findings are present

You will learn a structured exam that begins with the joint and moves outward to occlusion. This includes joint mobility assessment, muscle palpation, functional movement tests, bite recording steps, and identification of patterns that indicate instability.

6. How can dentists make restorative and orthodontic outcomes more predictable by integrating TMJ findings

You will understand how to incorporate stability focused diagnostics into treatment planning so your restorative work holds, your adjustments decrease, and your outcomes become more consistent over time.