REEDUCATION OF THE MASTICATORY FUNCTION

A few years ago, kinetic therapy was regarded as a secondary or auxiliary treatment method, likely to be used to treat the pains and dysfunctions of the masticatory apparatus (TMD). A better understanding of these pathologies has led, as for other musculo-skeletal disorders, to a new clinical approach which makes wide use of physical and kinetic therapy. Today, a great number of studies have confirmed the effectiveness of this type of treatment, including longterm
results for the chronic forms.
In 2000, “maxillo-facial reeducation other than for facial paralysis” was included, by the French Social Security administration, in the new list of professional acts concerning kinetic therapy and there was a reevaluation of the fee schedule. These decisions led to a revitalization of the interest of kinetic therapists in these conditions, and to their urging their continuing education structures to offer more specific education.
Dentists, in turn, should now be aware of, and be knowledgeable about, the therapeutic capabilities of kinetic therapy and its modalities of implementation, in order to better collaborate with the physical therapists, or to be able to themselves prescribe “at home” exercises to their dysfunctional patients, as described in this article.