How can anyone justify writing an article in 2006 on any facet of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and not at least reference Dr. Peter Dawson? The glaring omission of his contributions in the field of TMD diagnosis and treatment was evident in Dr. Robert Gatchel and colleagues’ March JADA article, "Efficacy of an Early Intervention for Patients With Acute Temporomandibular Disorder-Related Pain: A One-Year Outcome Study" (
JADA 2006;137:339–47
). Whether the authors were in agreement with his views or not, Dr. Dawson’s works should, at the very least, have been cited.
I pose a similar question about Dr. Donald Rinchuse and Dr. Sandjivan Kandasamy’s April JADA article, "Centric Relation: A Historical and Contemporary Orthodontic Perspective" (
JADA 2006;137: 494–501
).
Have the authors of these two fine articles not read Dr. Dawson’s works? If not, it’s their loss as they, and many others, continue to wander haplessly in the dark, and to speculate and waste time, money and effort when the answers are as close as the teeth themselves.
The answers are not always easy, but they are always there. The proper diagnosis and treatment of TMD syndrome is not a mystery wrapped in an enigma, as many would have us believe.
I strongly urge the American Dental Association to take a leadership role in enhancing the dental profession’s knowledge of this common malady, a major medical problem with a dental etiology. Our profession had best wake up to that fact.
