One of the most common reasons that dentists get sued today is because they perform elective cosmetic or restorative procedures on patients who have TMJ problems and do not know it. Many patients have TMD, but no symptoms. If the condition goes undiagnosed, symptoms can arise after a long dental appointment, so the patient can surmise that the dentist did something wrong to cause the pain. Actually, the problem was below the radar before the dentist began work
Tip: Always evaluate the TMJ and adhere to a standard of noting the chart during the screening in regards to history of TMJ problems, decreased range of motion, noise in joint, or pain on loading. Discuss these issues with patients prior to doing a procedure. Never work on occlusion with unhealthy joint. Recommend stabilizing joint prior to any dental work up piece. You can use a splint, refer for surgical therapy, or whatever is needed. Remember, healthy joint for good results! And always start with a comprehensive diagnosis.