DTR Therapy
Upper and lower teeth are in continuous contact throughout the day. If occlusion is improper for any reason, it can affect oral well-being.
Improper tooth contact, when some teeth receive more stress than others, may affect the periodontal health of the tooth and the masticatory muscles, leading to more serious temporomandibular disorders (TMD).
TMD affects all daily activities from eating to speaking, and causes severe headaches and muscle pain that may affect the quality of life.
Historically, occlusal discrepancies were detected by asking the patient to bite over a thin carbon paper to mark the occlusal contact. However, this method was not enough to complete a diagnosis of occlusal problems as it detects the areas of teeth contact during occlusion without giving an idea regarding its intensity.
Dulwich Dental Office is a state-of-the-art dental clinic that uses the most recent tools and technologies to deliver the best possible care for our patients. Disclusion Time Reduction Therapy (DTR Therapy) is a recent dental technology added to our diagnostic arsenal. It accurately evaluates occlusal activity to alleviate occlusal discrepancies and TMJ pain.
What is DTR Therapy and How does It work?
Normally the upper teeth overlap the lower ones during occlusion and guide them during jaw movement. Disclusion is the time elapsed until complete separation between the lower and upper teeth, estimated to be around 0.5 seconds or less. The longer the Disclusion time, the higher the chance for occlusal discrepancies and muscle strain.
DTR Therapy is an advanced tool used to study the contact time between teeth during various jaw movements. This study aims to identify the areas of increased pressure to minimise the disclusion time, decrease stresses on masticatory muscles and TMJ, and alleviate pain.
DTR therapy uses a combination of CT and Electromyography (EMG). The CT gathers information regarding the occlusal forces and their duration during various jaw movements. The EMG measures the electrical activity of the muscles to identify areas of muscle dysfunction and strain.
Based on the collected data our dental experts can identify the areas that need adjustments to optimise teeth occlusion and minimise TMJ stresses.
Benefits of DTR Therapy
DTR therapy is a valuable diagnostic and therapeutic tool. It provides detailed information in patients suffering from temporomandibular disorders related to improper occlusion to alleviate pain and decrease muscle stresses for better TMJ function. DTR Therapy offers the following advantages:
- Non-invasive: DTR is a conservative tool for treating occlusal discrepancies, eliminating the need for more invasive treatments, such as TMJ surgeries.
- Precise: DTR provides a detailed examination and diagnosis of areas of improper occlusal bite and their amount, which helps in an accurate and targeted treatment.
- Pain relief: DTR helps achieve immediate muscle pain and headache relief caused by temporomandibular disorders (TMD).
- Optimised jaw movement: DTR treatment allows for a better jaw function with reduced risk for pain or damage to the soft tissues.
- Improved bite: The precise bite discrepancy diagnosis and treatment through DTR therapy provide better teeth occlusion.
- Customised: DTR Therapy uses a combination of diagnostic tools to tailor a personalised treatment plan according to each patient’s needs and unique occlusal discrepancies.
- Detailed measurements: DTR Therapy depends on the information gathered through CT and EMG to record the amount and time of occlusal forces, in addition to recording the electrical activity of masticatory muscles for an accurate diagnosis and treatment of areas of dysfunction.
- Continuous monitoring: DTR allows for continuous monitoring during bite adjustments to ensure effective treatment before you leave the clinic.
- Immediate results: Immediate pain relief and comfort are experienced during the treatment visit after performing the necessary changes.
Complications of Increased Disclusion Time
You May Need DTR Therapy If You Experience
- Strained and sore masticatory muscles.
- Reduced mouth opening
- Teeth wear and sensitivity
- Clicking TMJ sounds when you open your mouth
- TMJ and ear pain
- Headache
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Bruxism
DTR Therapy Procedure at Dulwich Dental Office
At Dulwich Dental Office, we take pride in utilising the latest tools and technologies to deliver the highest quality care. We aim to ensure that our patients receive efficient, comfortable, and seamless services, prioritising their best interests.
If you suspect occlusal issues or temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), consult our dental experts to determine if DTR Therapy is the right choice. DTR Therapy is a simple and non-painful procedure.
When there is a clear occlusion issue and our experts recommend DTR Therapy, the treatment process consists of three steps:
Data collection
The bite data are collected through a T-Scan and EMG. The T Scan uses a special tray sensor placed inside your mouth and asked to bite on it to record the bite force and disclusion time. The muscle activity is recorded using EMG sensors placed on the masticatory muscles. All the collected data are integrated into computer software to identify the areas of interference.
DTR Therapy
Using computer-aided software, our experts study the areas of bite discrepancies to determine the most suitable action. The relief of the prolonged disclusion time areas involves minor adjustments to specific areas of your teeth. These adjustments include removing a tiny amount of tooth structure (less than 1 mm) or adding a layer of tooth-coloured restorative material.
Final assessment
After performing the required changes, the T-Scan and EMG measurements are retaken to ensure the problem is resolved. The good news is that you will feel immediate relief before leaving the clinic.
DTR Therapy session takes around 30-90 minutes according to the number of changes required. Usually, a follow-up visit is required after one week to monitor the progress and check the need for further adjustments.
DTR Therapy is a non-invasive, comfortable procedure with no anaesthesia required. The results are long-lasting and provide immediate relief, eliminating the need for surgeries and reducing painkillers intake, and do not even require a recovery time. A recent study on the effect of DTR Therapy over 5 years revealed a more comfortable lifestyle for the patients eliminating the need for nightguards or splints and decreasing the need for pain medications by 90%.
FAQs
In normal occlusion, the upper teeth overlap the lower teeth. Disclusion time is the time elapsed for the disengagement of lower teeth from the upper one during various jaw movements. This time is favored to be less than 0.5 seconds to avoid bite discrepancies and temporomandibular disorders (TMD).
DTR Therapy is a cutting-edge technology that collects data regarding bite force, disclusion time, and muscle activity using T-Scan and electromyography (EMG). These data are used to accurately determine the areas of bite discrepancies and correct them to relieve pain and decrease muscle strain.
DTR Therapy is needed to solve bite issues that cause TMD and muscle pain. You may need DTR Therapy if you experience: strained and sore masticatory muscles, limited mouth opening, clicking sounds in TMJ, bruxism, teeth wear, neck pain, and headache.
DTR Therapy is a non-invasive, painless, precise, and effective procedure to immediately relieve muscle pain and optimise jaw functions and bite. It provides long-lasting results and eliminates the need for more invasive solutions, such as surgeries.
In a recent study, DTR was found to be an effective treatment to reduce the need for pain medications by 90% and improve the patient’s quality of life by eliminating the need for nightguards and following a soft diet.
DTR Therapy session takes around 30-90 minutes according to the number of teeth involved and changes required.
The first step is data collection by biting on a T-Scan sensor to record bite force and disclusion time. EMG sensors are also applied to the masticatory muscles in specific locations to record muscle activity. Then, our dental experts thoroughly examine the collected data to determine the action required by removing a tiny amount of tooth structure or adding composite material in specific areas. A final verification step of retaking the measurements another time to ensure the bite issues have been effectively addressed.
No. DTR Therapy is a non-painful procedure and does not require local anaesthesia.
The number of DTR Therapy sessions depends on the degree of bite discrepancies. After the first session, you will feel immediate comfort and relief. Follow-up visits every 3 months are required to monitor the progress and perform another session if required.
DTR Therapy is a simple non-invasive and non-painful procedure that does not require a recovery period or lifestyle modifications after the procedure. Immediate relief and comfort are experienced following the session.
Our DTR Expert
One of London’s only DTR Certified Experts
Dr Cavan Ho
Dr Cavan Ho graduated from Kings College London, Guy’s King and St Thomas’s dental hospitals, and undertook a senior house officer position in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Queen Alexandra Hospital
Incorporating the latest dental technology into his workflow, using both an intra-oral camera and the latest ‘3D teeth scanner’ as tools to aid patients in relating to their own oral health, Dr Cavan believes that ‘seeing is believing’. He thinks it is vital for patients to understand what is going on in their mouths to motivate long-term improvements and is very thorough in giving advice on how to maintain your health, through answering questions you may have and explaining any treatment options available.
Cavan enjoys smile design to help fix worn and broken teeth in people who have suffered from long-term tooth grinding or acid erosion using composite bonding (adhesive full mouth rehabilitation)
Dr Cavan respects that every patient is a unique individual presenting with their own set of circumstances, and that most times a person with dental phobia is not irrational, but likely has had a bad experience at the dentist in the past. He is very patient and understanding and is more than happy to work at your pace to get you back in control of your own dental health.
Outside of work he enjoys skateboarding, cooking, spending time with his nephew James (2 years old), as well as researching alternative dental therapy to help enrich his patient’s health journeys. He has learnt head and neck acupuncture to manage patients with jaw muscle aches (TMD / TMJ pain / TMJ Dysfunction), that can sometimes masquerade as morning headaches or head tension. For chronic suffers, he may make you a Sleep Clench Inhibitor to alleviate symptoms, whereas for acute problems, this is likely to be the first time you have a dentist refer you for a massage!
Other General Dental Treatments
PREVENTIVE CARE
View
ROOT CANAL TREATMENT
View
BONDING
View
FLEXIBLE DENTURES
View
BRIDGES
View
MOUTHGUARDS
View
FILLINGS
View
CROWNS
View
CHILDRENS DENTISTRY
View
ORTHODONTICS
View
DENTURE STABILISATION
View
HYGIENIST
View
ORAL CANCER SCREENING
View
AIR ABRASION
View
We Have You Covered
Choosing the right dentist is important, and at Dulwich Dental Office we’re proud to provide trusted private and NHS dental care for patients throughout London. Whether you’re visiting us for a routine check-up in Camberwell, cosmetic bonding in Brixton, Invisalign treatment in Fulham, professional whitening in Parsons Green, or dental implants in Chelsea, you can expect professional care delivered with compassion and attention to detail.
Our highly experienced team provides a wide range of preventative, cosmetic and restorative dental treatments, allowing patients to receive comprehensive care in one modern practice. Our services include emergency dental treatments, routine examinations, hygiene appointments, fillings, crowns, bridges, veneers, braces, Invisalign clear aligners, composite bonding, teeth whitening, prosthodontics, bone grafting and dental implants in London.
We proudly welcome patients from Herne Hill, Tulse Hill, Balham, Clapham and Streatham, many of whom return year after year because of our personalised approach and commitment to outstanding patient satisfaction. Every treatment plan is carefully tailored to meet your individual needs, lifestyle and long-term oral health goals.
Whether you’re looking to maintain healthy teeth or completely transform your smile, Dulwich Dental Office offers the expertise and support you need. Contact our friendly team today to schedule your next dental appointment.
OTHER DENTAL TREATMENTS AVAILABLE
SPECIALIST TREATMENTS
These treatments use specalist technology, need more involved care, or are for a specific group of patients, like children.
COSMETIC DENTISTRY
From smile makeovers and tooth whitening to invisibraces. We offer a wide range of cosmetic services to guarantee a great smile in 6 months
CONTACT US
Renowned
Dental Clinic
Dulwich Dental Office is a renowned clinic that delivers a high-quality dental care service in East Dulwich. Call: 0208 6933339
