DISABILITY DEFINITION

dis·a·bil·i·ty – DISABILITY DEFINITION:

a physical or mental condition that limits a person’s movements, senses, or activities.
synonyms: handicap, disablement, incapacity, impairment, infirmity, defect, abnormality; More
a disadvantage or handicap, especially one imposed or recognized by the law.
“he had to quit his job and go on disability”.

Question:

How do TMD dentists document and show you have a disability or impairment? Does MRI, CBCT, lateral cephalogram show disability?

Proper objective EMG measuring protocols are able to show masticatory disabilities, impaired function/dysfunction. Example would be when the TMD patient clenches on their natural teeth the recruitment EMG amplitude patterns might show a low mV (microvolt) readings of 250-250 mV and below. This would be a clear indicator of disability (lack of proper masticatory function) comared to a more normal EMG clenching retruitment pattern of 250mV or greater (physiologic healthy).

Patients who show a less than normal levels of ability to clench and recruit the masticatory muscles during functional EMG testing has been noted in the literature as evidence based on controlled studies that used extensive statistical test that maximal bite force and the electrical muscle activity during maximal bite in the intercuspal position are significantly weaker in patients with functional disorders of the masticatory system than controls without such disorders.

This is just one of many ways GNM is able to quantify and measure disability and functional impairment.

MRI’s, CBCT, lateral Ceph imaging doesn’t show this.

What is the definition of disability under the ADA (American Dental Association)?

“It is important to remember that in the context of the ADA, “disability” is a legal term rather than a medical one. Because it has a legal definition, the ADA’s definition of disability is different from how disability is defined under some other laws.

The ADA defines a person with a disability as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity. This includes people who have a record of such an impairment, even if they do not currently have a disability. It also includes individuals who do not have a disability but are regarded as having a disability. The ADA also makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person based on that person’s association with a person with a disability.

“Disability” – disability is a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity. That sounds like most folks on this TMD forum have a disability and or mental impairment….!!

Now, how does one prove one’s TMD is a disability?

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