A Metro Denver Dentist is very qualified to perform his/her respective specialty. One of the scholastical accreditations which sets a Metro Denver Dentist apart from the rest is the education he/she has pursued after graduating from their respective dental specialty.

Being a member of the Roth Williams International Society of Orthodontists is a definite plus for any Metro Denver Dentist specializing in orthodoncy.

In 1975, Dr. Ron Roth, the founder of the society, in conjunction with Dr. Thomas Basta created the Foundation for Advanced Continuing Education (FACE). Here, orthodontists learned about the principles of the contact between teeth (occlusion) and its functionality along with clinical applications. The entire curriculum took 2 years and employed the "gnathological" approach - ie, the clinical approach based on the premise that "all occlusion is guided and brought together to a finally tuned order, determined by the axis of jaw joint rotation.". (www.leadingdentists.com) Under the guidance of renown gnathologists such as Drs. Charles Stuart and Peter K. Thomas, Dr. Roth was better able to understand how this process worked. His current colleague in the society, Dr. Robert Williams, was a student in the first FACE course.

As time passed, Dr. Williams joined Roth in his world-wide lectures. Together, in 1991, they founded the Roth Williams International Society of Orthodontists in Burlington, California.

In Orthodoncy, a Metro Denver Dentist will learn that there are two schools of thought - 1) The first and oldest philosophy is that of Gnathology, which is based on a belief that the temporo-mandibular joints hinge on an axis of rotation in the glenoid fossa of the skull. The emphasis is on occlusion and joint position, which is fundamentally, called "centric relation". (www.leadingdentists.com) This is the philosophy on which the Roth Williams Society bases its educational principles.

A Metro Denver Dentist will also learn that the second and newer school of thought is referred to as Neuromuscular, and, "is based on the understanding that the temporomandibular joints are in a physiologic resting position based on the guidance of muscles and stabilized by the occlusion of both the upper and lower teeth. Emphasis is on a physiologic position of the jaw/ mandible position to the skull (neuromuscular rest position), the physiology of rested muscles to support a physiologic occlusion for stability of all three entities: the TM joints, the muscle and the teeth." (www.leadingdentists.com)

A Metro Denver Dentist and Roth Williams Society member is taught that "the quality of orthodontic results could be improved with the inclusion of functional as well as aesthetic treatment goals. S/he will commit to a 2 year continuum to learn how to implement the concepts of functional occlusion into their practice." (www.rwiso.org)

The Metro Denver Dentist of your choice will explain that functional occlusion may be defined as "the relation of the teeth of both jaws when in proper contact during activity of the mandible." (www. http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com) In other words, functional occlusion occurs when the teeth of the upper and lower jaw work, in conjunction and properly, when chewing, speaking and swallowing. "In the ideal occlusion, food is ground without direct molar to molar contact, except in a straight line closure (Brossman, 1995). The grinding action, without actual physical contact of the molars, results from the interaction of the cuspid teeth during the chewing cycle (Brossman, 1995). The Metro Denver Dentist will find that ideal functional occlusions disconnect the molar areas almost immediately after the mandible begins to reverse its lateral excursion (Brossman, 1995)." (www.littletree.com)

Drs. Roth and Williams are firm believers, and emphasize in their teachings to Metro Denver Dentist society students, that "orthodontic results could use improvement through functional and aesthetic treatment goals. The Metro Denver Dentist will cover the five goal areas: facial aesthetics, dental aesthetics, functional occlusion, periodontal health and a healthy temporomandibular joint (TMJ)." (www.ehow.com)

In order for a Metro Denver Dentist to achieve successful repair of occlusional disharmony, while achieving aesthetically pleasing results, the procedures focus on whether tooth movement or removal is required. Also, "jaw surgery is a consideration of facial aesthetics. Dental aesthetics and facial aesthetics are complementary. Goals for both of these areas help in defining what needs to be done, and how it is going to look. For temporomandibular joint disorders, establishing goals under the five areas of facial esthetics, dental esthetics, functional occlusion, periodontal health, and a healthy temporomandibular joint will help in the success of orthodontic treatments and procedures." (www.ehow.com)

A Metro Denver Dentist who is a graduate of the Roth William Society will combine treatment with aesthetics to produce beautiful smiles. Photos courtesy of www.drgortho.com)