Dr. Gary V. Sevely's Schools

• UCLA School of Dentistry D.D.S.

Dr. Gary V. Sevely's Publications

• The Pacific Aesthetic Continuum Live November, 2010 by Dr. Gary V. Sevely The Pacific Aesthetic Continuum (PAC) Live is an interactive learning program that utilizes state of the art materials and instruments to teach dentists advanced methods and procedures previously thought impossible. Although based in San Francisco, California, PAClive holds courses throughout the world, employing highly trained specialists. The courses offered by PAClive include the Functional Anterior Program, which teaches ceramic restorations through hands-on treatments; and the Power PAC Program, which instructs hands-on treatments of posterior direct and indirect composites, as well as eight to ten anterior ceramic restorations. The Functional Advanced Anterior program provides instruction in the treatment of complex and comprehensive restorative cases, and the Full Mouth Rehabilitation course focuses on complex restorative and prosthetic cases. A new course, Digital Dentistry, provides hands-on training in digital photography, imaging, case presentation, and PowerPoint. PAC~live is sponsored by a number of pioneers in the industry, including American Dental Technologies, the D.H. Baker Dental Laboratory, Lone Mountain Dental Studios, LLC, and Frontier Dental Laboratories, among many others.

• Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, or TMJD, Dr. Gary V. Sevely January, 2011 by Dr. Gary V. Sevely In my Sunnyvale, California, practice I offer a wide variety of periodontal treatments, crowns, veneers, bridges, root canals, and specialize in implant dentistry. One dental issue that I frequently treat, that many patients have never heard of, is temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJD. The temporomandibular joint is the spot near the ear on either side of the head where the temporal bone, the upper jaw, and the mandible, the lower jaw, meet. This joint is one of the most frequently used in our body, as you can imagine from the amount of talking, yawning, and eating we do through the day. Causes of TMJD are usually chronic habits such as teeth grinding, teeth clenching excessive, chewing gum, fingernail biting. TMJD can also be caused by misalignment of the teeth or previous trauma and fracture of the jaw or facial bones. When the muscles, tendons, and bone that make up this complex joint are not working in sync, patients frequently report headaches and facial pain. A suspected TMJD case often requires a thorough dental and medical evaluation to identify, as there could be many reasons for similar symptoms. Popping, grating, and clicking noises with the movement of the jaw are often one indicator of TMJD. Painful chewing and jaw lock are other common indicators. X-rays and CT scans are often helpful in mapping the bone and joint damage, and MRI can be used to detail the soft tissues. Some relatively simple treatments for TMJD include taking anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin and ibuprofen, and applying heat and ice therapy. Naturally, complete jaw rest is important, and a custom-made acrylic device that fits over the teeth can be effective in preventing nighttime grinding. For cases caused by misalignment of the teeth, dental restorations involving adjustments of bridges or crowns will ensure stable bite. Surgical procedures such as ligament tightening, TMJ arthroscopy, joint replacement, and joint restructuring should only be considered when the case is acute and jaw deterioration at such a level that no other treatment is viable. From my experience surgery is a rare case indeed, and one that can often be prevented by undertaking the other medical treatments in a consistent and timely manner.

Dr. Gary V. Sevely's Links