DentistryOnline courseGnathology
Three patients, one repeatable TMD workup: joint, muscle and function exams that end in a clear treatment decision
Frank Spear and Kevin Kwiecien turn temporomandibular diagnosis into a sequence you can repeat chairside in TMD Clinical Pathway: Exam to Treatment Decisions. After a four-part demonstration of the joint and muscle examination, 32 lessons over 5 h 36 min follow three real patients — Megan, Ann and John — from history and working hypothesis through findings review, appliance therapy and re-assessment.
- 5modules
- 32lessons
- 5 h 36 minof video
- 3patient cases
What you’ll be able to do
- Perform a structured TMJ examination and interpret what you find
- Palpate and assess the masticatory muscles as a separate diagnostic step
- Run a functional exam and connect it to joint and muscle findings
- Form a working hypothesis from the history and refine it as evidence builds
- Decide when appliance therapy is appropriate and how to re-assess afterwards
Inside the course
The examination itself
Spear opens with four short segments showing how he examines the joints and muscles, establishing the baseline that every later case builds on.
Megan: a two-module case
The first patient is followed in full — history, joint, muscle and function exams each paired with a review of what was found — then system evaluation, an educated guess, further testing, an appliance and the follow-up visit.
Ann and John: applying the pathway
Two more patients go through the same steps, so you can watch the logic hold up in different presentations and practise reaching the next step yourself.
The presenters
Spear co-founded Spear Education, holds an M.S.D. in periodontal prosthodontics and teaches graduate prosthodontics at the University of Washington. Kwiecien, a former OHSU assistant professor with a master’s in healthcare administration, teaches at the Pankey Institute.
Built for
- Dentists new to TMDA defined order of steps instead of an unstructured exam.
- Restorative cliniciansScreening habits that catch joint problems before major occlusal work.
- Study clubsCase-based modules that suit group discussion.
Curriculum
Module 1: Muscle and TMJ Clinical Exam (1 h 04 min) 4 lessons
- Joint Examination and Evaluation – Part 1
- Joint Examination and Evaluation – Part 2
- Joint Examination and Evaluation – Part 3
- Joint Examination and Evaluation – Part 4
Module 2: TMD Exam to Decision – Megan, Part 1 (1 h 14 min) 7 lessons
- History and Working Hypothesis
- Clinical Joint Exam
- Review of Joint Findings
- Clinical Muscle Exam
- Review of Muscle Findings
- Clinical Function Exam
- Review of Functional Findings
Module 3: TMD Exam to Decision – Megan, Part 2 (51 min) 5 lessons
- Evaluation of System and Educated Guess
- Next Steps
- Additional Evaluation
- Appliance Therapy
- Re-Assessment
Module 4: TMD Exam to Decision – Ann (1 h 24 min) 9 lessons
- History and Working Hypothesis
- Clinical Joint Exam
- Review of Joint Findings
- Clinical Muscle Exam
- Review of Muscle Findings
- Clinical Function Exam
- Review of Functional Findings
- Assessment of System and Educated Guess
- Next Steps
Module 5: TMD Exam to Decision – John (1 h 04 min) 7 lessons
- Clinical Joint Exam
- Review of Joint Findings
- Clinical Muscle Exam
- Review of Muscle Findings
- Clinical Function Exam
- Assessment of System and Educated Guess
- Next Steps
Before you buy
Does it explain how to make an occlusal splint?
Appliance therapy appears as a decision point within Megan’s case; lab or chairside fabrication is not taught as a separate topic.
How long is each lesson?
Lessons are short — the 32 segments average roughly ten minutes each.
Do I get CME credit or a certificate?
No. Clinicapedia provides the educational content only — no CME or CE credits, MOC points or certificates of completion are included with this product.
Specifications
| Format | Online video course |
|---|---|
| Instructors | Frank Spear, Kevin Kwiecien |
| Contents | 5 modules · 32 lessons |
| Duration | 5 h 36 min |
| Access | Lifetime, self-paced |
| Department | Dentistry |
| Delivery | Instant download · lifetime re-download |
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