Abstract

Establishing a knowledge-based protocol for the treatment of orthodontic patients who report a history of temporomandibular dysfunction can alert the practitioner to potential treatment pitfalls before they happen. While the joints can be extremely adaptive, some individuals are subject to painful and/or limited function. Others have acquired condylar positions that, if not recognized, could lead to serious alterations in the original treatment plan. Combining a thorough diagnostic protocol with a therapeutic regimen that seeks to establish a stable condylar and occlusal position-prior to initiating treatment- is essential.