Occlusion, Tooth Wear and Temporomandibular Disorders
Assess and manage occlusal problems, tooth wear and temporomandibular disorders using proportionate, reversible care.
How to prepare for LDS Part 1
Build clinically applied knowledge, then practise selecting the single best safe action from five plausible options under timed conditions.
Core concepts
Concept 1
Assessment integrates symptoms, history, examination, functional impact, disease activity and patient concerns.
Exam cue: Identify the dominant process and whether it is active before intervening.
Concept 2
Initial management is usually diagnosis-led, conservative and reversible, with escalation for red flags or non-response.
Exam cue: Prefer monitoring, prevention and reversible management when irreversible change is not justified.
Risk pitfalls and guardrails
Attributing non-specific facial pain to occlusion without adequate assessment.
Guardrail: Do not select a technically possible option if it ignores urgency, consent, medical risk, competence, follow-up or the patient's priorities.
Starting irreversible treatment for a self-limiting or poorly defined problem.
Guardrail: Do not select a technically possible option if it ignores urgency, consent, medical risk, competence, follow-up or the patient's priorities.
Memory anchors
What frames tooth-wear assessment?
Pattern, severity, activity, aetiology, symptoms, function and patient priorities.
What are common tooth-wear processes?
Erosion, attrition and abrasion, often acting together.
What is a safe initial TMD principle?
Explain, reassure when appropriate, use conservative reversible care and review.
When should facial pain be escalated?
With red flags, neurological findings, trauma, systemic illness, diagnostic uncertainty or non-response.
Why document a baseline?
To distinguish active progression from stable historical change.
Checkpoint rule
Do the check-up only after you can summarize each concept in one sentence and identify one dangerous pitfall from memory.
Knowledge Check (after reading)
Short check-up to confirm understanding of this module.
Check-up Questions
A child with persistent digit sucking develops increased overjet and anterior open bite. Which mechanism explains the pattern?
A patient who grinds at night has matching polished facets on opposing teeth. What process is this?
Answer all questions to submit.
Next step personalized recommendations
Continue learning
Move forward only after this module is stable.
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