Title: Whiplash and Temporomandibular Disorders

The temporomandibular joint is susceptible to injury during whiplash as the head moves into extension. This was brought to our attention by Drs. Foreman and Croft in their book, Whiplash Injuries. Now Dr. Croft has teamed up with Dr. Dennis Steigerwald and a host of contributing authors to bring us a book on temporomandibular disorders (TMD) as they relate to whiplash. It covers diagnosis and treatment protocols for this specific injury.

This material is extremely important to chiropractic doctors. We see more whiplash cases than most other physicians, and we must be well-versed in recognizing these injuries. Now we can not only diagnose them properly, but provide the best treatment as outlined by the authors. No longer are you in the dark by simply referring your patients to a dentist for TMJ care.

Dr. Steigerwald is a practicing chiropractor in Southern California and his practice is limited to consultation and case management of TMD. He is on the postgraduate faculty of the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic. Dr. Croft is also on the postgraduate faculty of LACC, as well as NYCC. His book, Whiplash Injuries, helped catapult the entire chiropractic profession into the role of whiplash specialists. The other contributors include J. Michael Edwards, MD, DDS; Philip Potter, DDS; Konrad Boegelein, MD; Richard Farley, PhD; and Paul Davis, Dipl.Ac.

The book is well organized, well written, and well researched. Each contributing author gives his own slant to TMD and whiplash, and the collective work is thorough and informative. Dr. Croft's chapter, "The Cervical Acceleration/Deceleration Syndrome," for instance, is 60 pages, including 128 references.

The book's 10 chapters touch on examination, treatment, referral protocol, physical management (including therapies), psychological aspects, oral orthotics and the dental role, and medical/legal issues, among others.

The authors' clinical experience includes over 15,000 TMD cases over 15 years, including 1,000 whiplash induced TMD cases over the past 18 months.

This book is a good value. The research that went into this would take you thousands of hours to do yourself, or you can simply take advantage of the work and expertise of these terrific doctors. The book is well worth the cost.

I had only a superficial knowledge of TMD before reading this book. I feel much more comfortable now in knowing what to do, how to do it, and even when, why, and where to examine and treat. It also has provided me with confidence to speak to the dentist and oral surgeons to whom I refer.

Thank you Drs. Steigerwald and Croft for this important work.

Eggleston Rating: 10