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On September 25th. 2016 I had the opportunity and the great pleasure to attend the First Congress of the House of Gnathology in Turin, Italy.The Congress was the successful result of two years preparation in gathering the different concepts of five different Italian societies regarding the approach in diagnostics and treatment of temporomandibular disorders.The initiative,taken some years ago, by Dr. Eugenio Tanteri involved the Associazone Italiana Gnatologia, the Accademia Italiana di Kinesiografia ed Elettromiografia Cranio Mandibolare, the Associazione Italiana Pedro Planas, the Società Italiana Disfunzioni ed Algie temporomandibolari and the Società Italiana Odontostomatologia dello Sport.
Each society was given ample time to present its ideas which ot course differed but were aiming towards general improvement in the daily work of the clinicians.It was even discussed to try to design a common clinical examination protocol which could be promoted by any society in assisting the clinician in often difficult decisions.It is evident from listening to the colleagues that utmost few clinically useful examination criteria exist. Despite decades of attempts in focusing on research diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders their use in the clinical situation has not given any overwhelming impact on the daily work by the clinician.
I am looking forward to more cooperation between the researchers and the clinicians in the future and congratulate the House of Gnatholoy for this its first attempt in improving the care of thousands of suffering patients.
Tore L. Hansson 
Dear Dr. Hansson,
It was a pleasure to visit you in your clinic many years ago at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix. I was interested at that time in your research on the use of infrared laser therapy for temporomandibular joint treatment. The data that you shared with me was impressive.Did you ever publish the results? I am interested in purchasing such a laser. Could you share with me any information you may have regarding brands of lasers that you have found to be reliable in the clinic? Also I am interested in information regarding power settings,duration of application at each visit and the recommended number of treatments per week. Any information that you might be willing to share would be greatly appreciated.
It has been refreshing to read your posts regarding condylar asymmetry.Thank you for all of your contributions to the field of orofacial pain.
Best regards,
Paul C. Riley, DDS
Diplomate, American Board of Orofacial Pain
Dear Dr. Riley,
That was a long time ago! I brought the ASA Laser from Vincenza in Italy. Infra red laser 904 nm wave length. I used to apply the laser a couple of minutes on the arthritic joint for 5 days in a row. Results were published in the J. of Prosthetic Dentistry in the mid 90-s. Since the recognition of condylar asymmetry and later our development of the Maaxloc system by Dentatus,Sweden I abandoned the application of laser. I found the pure mechanical approach more efficienti i.e. to compensate at the tooth level what was missing in the vertical dimension in the arthritic joint compared to the mostly healthy opposite side joint .This approach is applied in as well the reversible as in the permanent treatment.
Sincerely,
Tore L. Hansson