FREESMEYER, WOLFGANG B. (Klinik und Poliklinik für ZMK, Aßmannshauser Str. 4-6, 14197 Berlin)
The importance of the clinical diagnosis in the overall diagnosis of the causes of functional impairments and disorders and their treatment is unquestioned. Often, however, the clinical, auscultatory, visual, and manual diagnosis fall short of distinguishing among the differing functionally determined clinical pictures. On the one hand this can he attributed to the complexity of the symptoms and on another to the multi-causal sources. For these reasons it is mandatory that the dentist employ an instrumental analysis method to arrive at an exact functional diagnosis and therapy, the latter of which incorporates follow-up supervision of the course of treatment.
This paper on basic principles describes the indispensability of an instrumental analysis method, such as articulator analysis, movement recordings of the mandibular joint, and visual renderings by means of CT and MRT. The paper evaluates the predictive capability of the instrumental analysis method in diagnosis and therapy and it draws conclusions pertaining to the treatment of patients with functional disorders of the cranio-mandibular system. The paper's underlying intention is to explicate basic issues from the perspectives of clinical practice, i. e., the questions of what, when, and where, and scientific research, namely, what is reliable knowledge and what is empirical practice. In addition the paper deals with future trends in the diagnosis and treatment of functional disorders of the masticatory organ.