'Three blind mice' is a witty metaphor for most dental and medical literature on idiopathic TMD—memeing those paradigms and practices lacking
fundamental measurement of occlusal forces.
Ask any dentist and they'll tell you:
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"Occlusion can be an elusive bane!​
Especially when the patient has pain!"
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Why?
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Because your subjective feedback ('how it feels')
and the ​​​normal, standard dental articulating paper:
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1) does not quantify any occlusal forces at all.
Common signs of chronic HYPERTONIA — head & neck muscle strain, TMJ discomfort, ear troubles, eye strain, & nerve pain—often go unrecognized and undiagnosed as manifestations of malocclusion. But symptoms like tooth sensitivity, clenching, grinding, TMJ clicking, limited or imbalanced jaw motion, chipped or broken crowns, loose implant crowns, dislodged fillings, abfractions, and idiopathic resorption or bone loss are typical findings in every single dental office, every single day.
Burdens like these can be especially frustrating after cosmetic treatment. You can easily spend as much on your smile as you would on a kitchen renovation. The end result should not only LOOK great, it should also FUNCTION well. Occlusion takes center stage when considering the balance, harmony, and function of your bite, muscles, and TMJs.
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After veneers, typical instructions are to wear a 'night guard'. And after orthodontics, a 'retainer'. What do they have in common? They're each a piece of plastic worn over teeth, just like a 'TMD orthotic'. If you've ever wondered how a 'TMD orthotic' differs from a 'night guard' or 'retainer', the answer has to do with INTENT and PURPOSE. But it's not unreasonable to be confused because they actually *can be* (and indeed sometimes *are*) more similar than you may have been told.
"T-SCAN's steep learning curve exemplifies the Dunning–Kruger effect. It seems simple enough at first but learning how to use the data deliberately, efficiently, and effectively over months and years can be a real ego killer. It demands deep introspection that can only be understood by those who've been truly humbled by the data itself. Mastery only comes from personally challenging trials of self-disciplined, thoughtful consideration and quiet respect.​
My fundamental T-SCAN training under the mentorship of Drs. Ben Sutter and Robert Kerstein merited DTR certification (c.2018) and revealed occlusion as worthy of its own paradigm, inseparable from the world of TMD.​
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For full-mouth rehabilitation or reconstruction, primary concerns should be how to measure entirely new patterns of occlusion, how the TMJs might be affected, and how to interpret changes to mandibular posturing and range of motion—especially as influenced by occlusion and temporomandibular muscle coordination.
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From this standpoint, I look forward to each and every opportunity to help qualified candidates through the computer-guided bite calibration process known as DTR THERAPY, which begins and ends with objective measurements and can bring life-changing relief from TMD symptoms via minimal and conservative dental treatment.
Likewise and by the very nature of
measured occlusion, I'm grateful to
offer impressive cosmetic dental care
in balanced harmony with head
and neck muscle function and temporomandibular joint health."
Native Houstonian and grateful son of a dentist,
Dr. Harden earned his D.D.S. from the University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston, class of 2008.
With a professional focus on quality, he provides based, compassionate, data-driven, no-nonsense care for patients from West University, the Museum District, Bellaire, Upper Kirby, River Oaks, Tanglewood, Memorial, and beyond—graciously welcoming all who find his practice while searching for a uniquely dental perspective.
​​He and his wife Elizabeth reside in Houston’s Memorial area.
They relish the city’s vibrant culinary scene and frequently escape to the Texas Hill Country for restorative vacation. Elizabeth is a celebrated interior designer with
an impressive portfolio of beautifully crafted homes
throughout Houston and Galveston.