Therapeutic communication with CMD patients-Part 1

The vast majority of disorders of the masticatory system that dentists are likely to meet in their practices are due to dysfunctional strains on the affected tissues that occur either in the maximal intercuspal position (clenching) or in excentric positions of the mandible (grinding), and are generally summarized under the collective term "bruxism." There is a general consensus that these disorders are strongly dependent on behavior. Therefore, the more dentists can motivate their patients to show insight and cooperate, the more successful they will be with their treatment. This motivation can be substantially facilitated if the patient is an active partner in the examination and healing process. In other words, dentists and patients need to act jointly. To act jointly (Latin: communicare) is also the original meaning of communication. The modern definition of "exchange of information" or "mutual control" has only emerged over the last few decades, parallel with the development of electronic communication techniques.