OJW DPOJW Course

La présentation Power Point : Orthodontic Jaw Wiring (OJW) ^{(pat. pending)}
Ligature Orthodontique Intermaxillaire Rôle du praticien dans le contrôle des excès d’alimentation

Modèle de consentement éclairé du patient concernant la technique OJW: Version française:

DENTIST PROVIDERS OF ORTHODONTIC JAW WIRING will be a not-for-profit, tax exempt organization (501c3) composed largely of dentists and dental specialists (in particular orthodontists), whose panel of advisors will eventually include a lawyer, dentists, orthodontist, psychotherapeutic counselor, and where possible, a bariatric surgeon, a registered dietician and some former OJW patients....The major goal is to acquire funds to carry out research at an appropriate facility (dental school, hospital, weight loss clinic); to investigate whether or not the present protocol for orthodontic jaw wiring (a relatively non-invasive approach to weight loss), is a safe, i.e, without multiple harmful side effects) and effective method to aid overweight and obese persons to lose weight and keep it off lest they become candidates for invasive surgery whose mortality rate is
2-3/1000. And if so, to raise awareness of its potential among other health providers such as general physicians. It will support educational activities to help providers understand and appreciate how to provide this service so as to maximize the potential for patients to achieve their weight-loss goals while recognizing and minimizing any potential injuries likely to befall a patient in the short run (3-6 months), or during a more lengthy period of OJW (6-12 months)....It will promote the spread of knowledge of the method to general dentists and orthodontists (by creating continuing educational courses) and to the public at large, by encouraging would-be providers whose numbers at present are limited.

To view the OJW DPOJW Power Point Presentation presented to dental professionals at the GNYDM , November 29, 2004 and to orthodontists at the American Association of Orthodontists May 22, 2005 meeting [Click Here].

Please Note: You must have MS Power Point software loaded onto your PC to view the presentation.

OJW for weight loss is a treatment modality for a serious "social, psychological and physiological" problem that can help some people to get a start on treating a problem with potentially grave consequences. Obesity is legion and epidemic and recognized as a precursor to a host of serious illnesses. I am exploring the "orthodontic" approach to help alleviate this epidemic in those cases where it may be applicable to carefully selected individuals. I think dental professionals can deliver this service with compassion and intelligence. My experience to date is that it is safe, and reasonably effective when performed with proper protocols that are presented herein. [See OJW Directory]. Moreover, it has applications in the customary practice of dentistry. Other indications for OJW.

On May 4, 2009 I am planning to present to my orthodontic colleagues in Boston the results of a survey entitled The Safety and, Effectiveness of, and the Problems associated with, Orthodontic Jaw Wiring (OJW-- a weight-control method for individuals exhibiting compulsive overeating" [See the survey]

Providers of OJW are limited to general dentists, orthodontists and oral surgeons. These professionals are the most competent to provide Orthodontic Jaw Wiring because of their familiarity with the anatomy and physiology of the gums, teeth, dental occlusion and jaw joints.

It has fallen to me to familiarize my colleagues with the principles related to providing this service. Consequently, you will find the OJW-DPOJW course below. In addition, I have presented Table Clinics on this subject at:

I HAVE PROVIDED OJW TO 85 PATIENTS, all of whom expressed their gratitude in no small terms. If I measured the success of OJW by whether these patients modified their eating and exercise habits permanently then I cannot convincingly say that OJW was a success. I simply did not have the resources to do so. But, if I measure success by gratitude expressed I would have to say they were to the last person pleased with the OJW procedure and the benefits derived there from.

I am confident that in time OJW will become a service that members of the the dental community provide with pleasure in their own communities. I have no doubt that there will never cease to be members of the dental and medical community who look upon OJW with a jaundiced eye. I say offer the service, choose your patients carefully, do the OJW methodically and be responsive to patients needs.

Most of the compulsively overweight will applaud your efforts to help them and they will not hold it against you if they regain the weight. They do expect you would-be providers to see to it that no harm is coming to them because of the OJW.

You need to make sure their teeth, gums and jaw joints are not being harmed and to remove the appliance when they request it, and even before that if you think no benefit is being derived.

What is "compulsive overeating'?

COMPULSIVE EATING aka FOOD ADDICTION by GDR

Until I consciously observed my own eating compulsion (i.e, anytime I think of food I go for it, being unable or unwilling to stop myself from visiting the refrigerator or pantry) I had no understanding or sympathy for "addiction." Then it dawned on me: I was addicted - to food! I had no self-control barrier between the thought of food and getting it and eating it. I'd go to the refrigerator to look see even after I'd visited it a half-hour before and found nothing to eat...At meals, buffets, and potlucks, I'd eat two or three portions, not just one. The only person who ate more then me was the only person who was fatter than me. I finally realized that the desire to eat was not motivated by hunger but by (a) social discomfort when in public (it's easier to eat than socialize) and (b) procrastinating. Putting things off is what put me into the kitchen at home. There I could distract myself from what I should be doing but am not doing, by spending time preparing food, sitting down to eat it, and reading a newspaper or magazine at the same time. These two deficiencies seem to be the basis of my eating compulsion. When I'm busy and productive, I eat much less than when I'm not. I never eat because I'm hungry. I eat because its time to eat (3 meals a day) and between meals because it serves a psychological need. Did you ever examine what needs your eating compulsion serve?

ORTHODONTIC JAW WIRING refers to the entire domain of the OJW provider's responsibility for selecting patients according to a specified criteria, providing them with informed consent so that they are aware of the risks and limitations of OJW, then wiring their jaws (see also) (see also) together by a prescribed, method, transmitting that know-how to the patient (especially if they are not able to return to your office and can not find a professional level provider) and finally, r eexamining them and rewiring them periodically after examination has shown that their dentition, gingiva, and TMJ have remained healthy until the period of time that they have elected to receive OJW expires (usually about 6-9 months; representing a weight loss of 50-75 pounds) and you have removed the wiring and brackets. OJW presumes that the service is provided under the auspices of a healthcare team which includes: the patient's physician and dentist, the provider of the OJW service, a dietician, and when applicable the patient's psychologist and/or psychotherapist as well as the input of a bariatric surgeon .

Review of the literature on the subject

"Special" article submitted to the AJO-DO Sunday October 28: The Dental Professional’s Role in Weight Control for Compulsive Overeating Leading to Obesity

The course/curriculum prepared for continuing education to be given at NYU if chosen

Is OJW a service that dental professionals are permitted to provide under NY State Law?

Ten reasons to provide OJW to carefully selected patients in your practice and your community

The hyperlinks for the entire subject matter of OJW

Indications for the use of OJW

The equipment and supplies required to implement Orthodontic Jaw Wiring [Click Here]

The standards expected of providers of Orthodontic (Dental) Jaw Wiring

OJW Providers

The Diploma/Certificate granted to DPOJW members

The Utility Patent Application for OJW

OJW patent application drawings: Sheet 1 Sheet 2

June 15, 2007 Photo-documentation of the first clinical trial combining simultaneously Orthodontic treatment with OJW from the every start.

Methods and instruments to remove the wiring and a "just in case" method.

The OJW Mouse Pad

The OJW Seminar Handout

May 12, 2006

I presented my work on OJW^{(pat. pending)} (Orthodontic Jaw Wiring) at the 106th International Orthodontic conference In Las Vegas on May 7. Take a look at the table clinic I prepared, and see some sights Las Vegas has to offer. [Click here]