Philosophy Statement of Practice - "The purpose of this practice is to provide modern, sensible and technologically superior oral health care in a personalized and timely fashion that will serve not only to treat, protect and sustain our patients but also stand as a compassionate and vigilant guardian, for their sake, against untoward oral health circumstances that might befall them throughout the course of their lives in this complicated and unforgiving world." Terrance J. Spahl, Doctor of Dental Surgery

• Principal author of a trilogy of textbooks on orthodontics, maxillofacial orthopedics and TMJ therapeutics. "The Clinical Management of Basic Maxillofacial Orthopedic Appliances, Volume 1: Mechanics, Volume 11: Diagnostics, Volume III: Temporomandibular Joint, Mosby-Yearbook Inc., St. Louis, Missouri
  
  
• Lectured on the subject of orthodontics and TMJ before both dental and medical groups. He has lectured for over two decades at seminars and dental meetings throughout the United States and Canada. He has also lectured in Europe, South America, Australia and the Orient.
  
  
• Certified Senior Instructor for the International Association of Orthodontics
  
  
• Named "The Clinician of the Year" by the American Association of Functional Orthodontics in Washington D.C. It is that organization's highest award given annually to one individual.
  
  
• Served as a Dental Products Consultant with 3M Company
  
  
• Served as a Clinical Instructor for the Department of Radiology at the University of Minnesota
  
  
• Served on the Dental Surgery Committee of St. John's Hospital in St. Paul
  
  
• Served as AAFO's representative to the Alliance of TMD Organizations National Committee
  
  
• Orthodontic appliance design consultant and clinical lecturer for The Appliance Therapy Group and The Smile Foundation
  
  
• Authored numerous articles for various journals on the subject of orthodontics/TMJ
  
  
• Authored a chapter "Orthodontic Diagnosis and Treatment Planning with the Computer" for the text "Internationale Beitage Zur Kieferorthopadie" for Hans Peter Bimler, published by Quintessence Publishing Co.
  
  
• Contributing Editor: The Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry, the Functional Orthodontist, and The International Journal of Orthodontics
  
  
• Developer of the Spahl Split Vertical (SSV) Appliance System
  
  
• Member of the American Association of Functional Orthodontics
  
  
• Member of the Consulting Board of the TMJ Institute of America
  
  
• Member of the Board of the Functional Freedom Foundation
  
  
• After two years in the Air Force, he returned to a private practice in St. Paul
  
  
• Studied extensively at numerous post graduate courses in both this country and abroad, and under such noted lecturers as John Witzig, Phil Jones, Merle Bean, J.W. Truitt, Waldemar Brehm, William L. Wilson, Hans Eirew, Peter Dawson, and many others. He has also studied cephalometrics under the extended private tutelage of Dr. Hans Peter Bimler in Wiesbaden, Germany.
  
  
• Won the Senior Essay competition (as a dental student at the University of Minnesota), sponsored by the Minnesota Prosthodontics Society, for a paper on the relationship of speech defects to artificial dentures
  
  
• Obtained a B.S. and D.D.S. degrees from the University of Minnesota, completing his dental education in 1969
  
  
• Attended the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, 1962-1965
  

Excerpts from the Brochure for "The 'Neuro' Lecture" on January 30-31, 2004, Singer Island, Florida

(Produced by the Ohlendorf Laboratories Series)

"This unique two-day program was conceived and developed over a five year period by Dr. T J Spahl, in an effort to teach any dentist who is treating TMJ patients the latest information about pain physiology and the appropriate coordination of orthodontic/splint therapies with modern pharmacological support in the management of chronic TMJ patients."

"In an effort to clearly and concisely convey the total connection between Orthodontics, TMJ, and related treatments, Dr. Spahl will cover the Diagnostic Protocol for the Ortho/TMJ patient, illustrate the phases of Pain Patient Management, explain easy-to-use bite stabilization methods, unravel the layers of pain and dysfunction, explain how various important appliances can be used to reposition the mandible to the cranium, and how they relate to the neurological manifestations of the TMJ Patient. Detailed clinical case presentations will be provided to enhance your understanding of these important concepts."

"Over an intense, energy-filled two day span, Dr. Spahl, in his easy-to-understand, yet thorough style, will provide clear, comprehensive and practical information about the Neurophysiologic Basis of TMJ headaches, oralfacial pains and the analysis of these pains as a determinant of the various types of treatment options. You will be taught a step-by-step guide as to understanding the truth and "hard science" of the chronic TMJ headache, pain dysfunction patient. This valuable information is the "Next Step" in the beginning of your understanding of successful treatment of the TMJ patient.. Detailed case studies will be shown to ensure your understanding of the material presented."

"Dr. T. J. Spahl is clearly one of the most Internationally respected and experienced Doctors in the field of orthodontics and TMJ. Dr. Spahl, a clinician with 30 years experience, is the principal author of a trilogy of the most widely published orthodontic textbooks in the United States. He has been in the private practice of TMJ and related Orthodontics since 1971. As a leader in the field of TMJ treatment and the 1992 American Association of Functional Orthodontics Clinician of the Year, Dr. Spahl is a much sought-after speaker in the United States, Europe and Asia. Dr. Spahl's dynamic style and broad command of the subject matter of his lectures ensures that you will not only enjoy learning from him but that your questions will be answered in a no-nonsense manner."

"As a testament to his skill as a dynamic speaker and instructor consider this, Dr. Spahl has lectured before orthodontic, TMJ and dental societies throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, Germany, Korea, Peru and England and always by specific invitation of the sponsoring organizations! He is not a professional lecturer who occasionally practices, but a full-time professional clinician who occasionally lectures. Yet his command of his subject matter, his clear and friendly style, and the extremely high levels of trust he develops with his audiences makes him one of the most popular and highly admired speakers of his time."

A Personal Message from Dr. Spahl... The Secrets of Pain Management!"

"You need and deserve this most important technical information. Most dental schools are incapable of assembling this type of clinically oriented neuroscience for their dental students, yet every clinician is responsible for it and must have it."
"In over 30 years of treating TMJ patients, I have found the most important unifying agent that brings it all together better than anything else, by far, is the basic knowledge of the neurophysiology of pain processing throughout the trigeminal neurovascular system. It is this basic knowledge that allows clinicians to understand what is going on with their patients so that they can deliver the finest and most consistently successful treatments in the most timely fashion. It sure takes most of the stress out of TMJ treatments for both the doctor and patients. Even if you only refer, you will know how to refer correctly. You will be able to discuss pain management intelligently with medical colleagues with whom you must work on many cases. I cannot conceive of not having this valuable knowledge to backup your daily clinical judgements."

What You Will Learn!

Headache Neurology in TMJ Case Management Every Dentist Should Know - Even for Those who Only Refer!

• The most condensed, basic, practical Neurological Principles of TMJ - Headache-Chronic Pain Management available today in any CE course.
• Give your patients that extra level of advanced care that can mean the difference between success and failure on difficult cases.
• Take the stress out of learning TMJ treatment techniques by mastering the basic neurological science behind pain processing in the chronic TMJ-tension headache/migraine headache patient.
• Ninety percent of all clinicians treating TMJ lack much or all of this most important neurological knowledge behind the TMJ/migraine connection. Ask yourself.
  
  
  1. Are you certain why the various types of headache and chronic pain manifest themselves the way they do?
  2. Do you have a clear understanding of the true signs, symptoms and classification of headaches and their neurological basis?
  3. Can you truthfully explain to patients why they feel the pains they feel?
  4. Do you know primary pain from secondary pain or referred pains and which are real?
  5. Do you know when to change the splint or appliance and when to leave it alone?
  6. Do you know which medications to prescribe for which type of pain?
  7. Do you know when treatment is complete even when certain pains remain and why?
     
     
     "Dr. Spahl can give you these needed skills through his ability to clarify extremely complex issues and make them easily understood by everyone."
     
     "Don't miss out on this golden opportunity to hear one of Dentistry's greatest lecturers speak on this important, fascinating subject."