Rowland S. Holsinger, D.D.S., of Denton, has been recruited by BioRESEARCH Assoc. Inc., a global leader in craniofacial diagnostic aids, to be part of a product development team. Dr. Holsinger joins a team of 25 dentists across the country that will help bring a new MScan diagnostic tool to market.
The device called “MScan” will help dentists more effectively treat pain and other issues related to the temporomandibular joint (TMD) issues as well as better understand the relationship between grinding and clenching and the wear and damage to existing dental work.
Dr. Holsinger’s role on the product development team is to clinically test each new EMG prototype developed by BioRESEARCH and give an expert opinion to the engineers for development of the final device to be released in fall of 2011. “Since our practice is patient-focused we are always looking for ways to enhance patient services,” says Rowland S. Holsinger, D.D.S. “So when the opportunity to join the product development team came up it made a lot of sense for us to participate,” he adds.
Currently dentists often use intra oral appliances or “splint therapy” to reduce the activity of the muscles that control the jaw. This method is highly subjective since it relies on feeling the muscles to see if their splint reduces the ability of the muscles to clench. Most dentists and patients use the splint for a period of time and hope that it was built correctly and that it gives the patient relief. If the splint doesn’t work, another configuration is tried. This process can be slow and expensive for the patient.
More advanced dentists use electromyography (EMG) to measure the electrical activity of the craniofacial muscles. This allows for an objective comparison of the impact of the splint on the patient’s dysfunction. These clinicians can measure their patient’s current capacity to clench, and test different configurations of splints to find the best solution in the first appointment, before the patient leaves the office. The expense and learning curve of most EMG systems have kept this capability out of all, but the most advanced dental practices.
The impact on the release of this new device is far reaching since it will enable dental practices to more quickly intercede clenching and grind issues that damage existing dental work thereby saving patients money in repeat restorative services.
“In dentistry today most of our dental work, in patients over 30, is focused at wear and damage. We repair broken and worn teeth, using root canals, bridges and crowns, mainly,” says Paul Mitsch, D.M.D., director of the MScan Product Development Team. “The MScan allows us to identify, with the patient, the cause of wear and damage; grinding, clinching and collapsed tempromandibular joints. Treating wear and damage is a preventive treatment in our profession and allows the patient to save thousands of dollars in repairs and replacements, by simply using and testing the efficiency of protective appliances,” he adds.
Now celebrating its 25th year Smiles By Holsinger & Higgins opened in February 1986 and offers the convenience of comprehensive care for adult patients. They provide routine dental check-ups and cleanings as well as cosmetic enhancements to improve the appearance of crooked, chipped, unevenly spaced, or stained teeth. Since 2001 Smiles By Holsinger & Higgins has also provided sedation dentistry for the fearful patient or for those patients who wish to combine multiple procedures in fewer appointments.
Services include:
• Sedation dentistry
• NuCalm™
• Invisalign® (invisible braces)
• Single-visit crowns
• Implants
• Bonding
• Veneers/Lumineers®
• Facial Esthetics (Restylane® and Dysport®)
To learn about patient services, call (410) 479-3644 in Maryland or (800) 617-3644 in Delaware or visit www.smilesby.com.