OHI-S OCTA concept and splint therapy

21 lessons + 1 free (12h 13min)

Course on the restoration of occlusal architectonics in the OCTA concept!

By the author of the concept – Jean-Daniel Orthlieb – you will learn to:

– find and set a reference plane

– diagnose and manage muscular-articular dysfunctions using splints

– determine therapeutic and reference position

– manage the VDO

– restore an occlusion on the spheres of Spee and Wilson

– recreate correct anterior guidance.

The course is MUST HAVE for gnathologists, prosthodontists, orthodontists and dental technicians who take care of patients with occlusal disorders and muscular-articular dysfunctions.

The OHI‑S OCTA Concept and Splint Therapy program is best for prosthodontists, orthodontists, restorative dentists, and oral surgeons who want structured, training in occlusal architecture and functional splint therapy. It emphasizes evidence‑based protocols to secure adult orthodontic and prosthodontic treatments, prevent dysfunction, and ensure long‑term stability.

Who Should Enroll
Prosthodontists rehabilitating adult patients with complex occlusal and functional demands.
Orthodontists planning adult orthodontic treatments where occlusal stability and retention are critical.
Restorative dentists & general practitioners performing crowns, bridges, veneers, or rehabilitations who want to integrate occlusal architecture and splint therapy.
Oral & maxillofacial surgeons collaborating on occlusion‑related cases and TMJ management.
Periodontists considering occlusal forces in periodontal stability and prosthetic planning.
Dental technicians fabricating prostheses and splints that must harmonize with occlusal design.
Residents & fellows in prosthodontics, orthodontics, or restorative dentistry seeking advanced occlusion‑focused training.
What You’ll Learn
OCTA concept fundamentals: occlusal architecture principles to secure orthodontic and prosthodontic adult treatments.
Splint therapy protocols: diagnostic and therapeutic splints for occlusal stability, bruxism, and TMJ disorders.
Functional occlusion: ensuring long‑term comfort, retention, and stability.
Integration with orthodontics: how occlusal design and splints secure orthodontic corrections.
Integration with prosthodontics: protocols for crowns, bridges, dentures, and full‑mouth rehabilitations.
Case‑based lessons: real examples of occlusal architecture and splint therapy applied in adult treatments.

+ Topics:

Lesson 1.The concept and definitions in occlusion

– Occlusion: difficulties and contradictions

– OCTA: 8 criteria of occlusal reconstruction

– The concept of «zerocclusion»: risks

– Functions and dysfunctions of occlusion

– Errors and confusion in definitions concerning occlusion issues

– Elements of occlusion analysis:

– Static relation

– Spatial situation

– Cinetic relation.

Recommended for: Orthodontist, Gnathologist, Prosthetist, Dental Technician, General Dentist.

Lesson 2.Classification of occlusive functions and dysfunctions. Stability

– Occlusion stability:

– ICP

– Vertical and horizontal

– Proximal contacts.

– The role of the first molars in the stability of occlusion

– Reduced and short dental arch: differences and functionality

– Transverse stability: classification

– Unstable inter-tubercular contacts: over-occlusion

– Risks of TMJ compression

– Loss of lateral occlusal support and loss of vertical demention of occlusion

– Vertical incisor dysocclusion

– Clinical methods for assessing the stability of occlusion

– Minimum stabilization: 4 key points.

Recommended for: Orthodontist, Gnathologist, Prosthetist, Dental Technician, General Dentist.

Lesson 3.The centric relation

– Discussion around understanding the centric relation

– Determination of the starting position: 4 key factors

– Anatomical aspects of the TMJ and masticatory muscles

– The role of muscles in stabilizing condyles

– The terminal hinge axis movement concept

– Stable centric relation: definition

– P.K. Thomas and Lauritzen manipulation and the P. Dawson maneuver: disadvantages.

Recommended for: Orthodontist, Gnathologist, Prosthetist, Dental Technician, General Dentist.

Lesson 4.CR registration using hard wax

– The terminal hinge axis movement concept

– Stable centric relation: definition

– P.K. Thomas and Lauritzen manipulation and the P. Dawson maneuver: disadvantages

– Method of registration of the centric relation using wax plates

– Creation of an anterior occlusal stop: indications and methodology

– Reproducibility of the central ratio: Split cast technique.

Recommended for: Orthodontist, Gnathologist, Prosthetist, Dental Technician, General Dentist.

Lesson 5.Centering function of occlusion: basic concepts

– Transverse stability of the centric relation

– The difference between ICP and RCP in the transversal direction

– Guiding function: influence on the movement of mandible

– The principle of the anterior guide.

Recommended for: Orthodontist, Gnathologist, Prosthetist, Dental Technician, General Dentist.

Lesson 6.Occlusion dysfunctions

– Guiding dysfunction: interferences

– Determination of the posterior interference

– Guide for laterotrusion: classification

– Anterior interference

– Retroactive control

– Premature contact on the posterior teeth: causes.

Recommended for: Orthodontist, Gnathologist, Prosthetist, Dental Technician, General Dentist.

Lesson 7.The main components of the ОСТА concept

– The OCTA or eight occlusal criteria of reconstruction are:

– the reference plan

– the reference position, the therapeutic position

– the VDO

– mandibular incisor position

– maxillary incisor position

– the plan of occlusion and the curve of Spee

– the incisal guidance

– the cusp height and the curve of Wilson.

– Prosthodontic determining factors: aesthetics, resistance, function;

– Axis-orbital plane (AOP).

Recommended for: Orthodontist, Gnathologist, Prosthetist, Dental Technician, General Dentist.

Lesson 8.Definition of the reference plane

– Use of the facebow for fixing horizontal reference plane

– ARP index

– The use of the facebow as a guide

– Facial asymmetry

– 3 possible options for creating a horizontal reference plane.

Recommended for: Orthodontist, Gnathologist, Prosthetist, Dental Technician, General Dentist.

Lesson 9.The concept of mandible reference position and the vertical demention of occlusion

– Mandible reference position of due to the work of the muscles

– Reproducible positions: ICP and CR

– Stable and unstable ICP.

Recommended for: Orthodontist, Gnathologist, Prosthetist, Dental Technician, General Dentist.

Lesson 10.Reposition of the mandible and determination of the VDO

– Therapeutic position: ICP registration

– Changing the VDO: techniques

– Repositioning of mandible: anteposition.

Recommended for: Orthodontist, Gnathologist, Prosthetist, Dental Technician, General Dentist.

Lesson 11.Choosing the position and inclination of anterior teeth

– VDO selection

– Position of the mandibular anterior teeth

– Inclination of anterior teeth: the tangent law

– Data transfer to the articulator.

Recommended for: Orthodontist, Gnathologist, Prosthetist, Dental Technician, General Dentist.

Lesson 12.Principles of reproduction of occlusal curves

– Maxillar anterior teeth double function

– The position of maxillar canines relative to the lip

– Formation of inclination of the occlusal plane.

Recommended for: Orthodontist, Gnathologist, Prosthetist, Dental Technician, General Dentist.

Lesson 13.Features of the curve of Spee formation

– The radius of the curve of Spee and the morphology of the mandible: the relationship

– Tangent law: the geometric concept of the curve of Spee

– Features of inclination of the lower molar

– The phenomenon of mesial drift

– Calculation of the radius of the curve of Spee: methods

– The system of transferring curves to the model: the system of flags and the technique of templates

– Setting teeth by sphere.

Recommended for: Orthodontist, Gnathologist, Prosthetist, Dental Technician, General Dentist.

Lesson 14.Curve of Wilson formation

– Inclination of anterior guidance

– Natural occlusion and therapeutic concept: differences

– Group and canine guidance

– Sagittal condylar inclination and anterior guiding angle: correlation

– Morphology of deocclusions between the posterior teeth

– The curve of Wilson: static and kinematic points of view

– Transfer of the curve of Wilson to the articulator: methodology

– The curve of Wilson control in prosthodontics.

Recommended for: Orthodontist, Gnathologist, Prosthetist, Dental Technician, General Dentist.

Lesson 15.TMD: definition. Mythbusting

– Disputes and confusion in the TMD concepts

– TMD: definition and prevalence

– Criteria for the diagnosis of TMD: “SAD”

– Psychosocial status in the diagnosis of TMD

– 3D-model of etiopathogenesis of TMD

– Classification of TMD

– Mistakes in the diagnosis of TMD

– Primary and secondary TMD

– Occlusal dysesthesia.

Recommended for: Orthodontist, Gnathologist, Prosthetist, Dental Technician, General Dentist.

Lesson 16.Mistakes in the TMD diagnosis

– Thinking strategy: еrrors in the diagnosis of TMD

– Primary and secondary TMD

– Occlusal dysesthesia.

Recommended for: Orthodontist, Gnathologist, Prosthetist, Dental Technician, General Dentist.

Lesson 17.Diagnosis of articular forms of TMD

– Classification of articular forms of TMD

– Partial desunion with reduction

– Total desunion with reduction

– Diagnosis of desunion by MRI

– Condylography: decoding

– Subluxation of the articular disc: diagnosis and the need for treatment

– Disunion without reduction

– Permanent complete disconnection of the “disc-condyle” complex with degenerative remodeling of the articular tubercle

– Algorithm for diagnosis of TMD.

Recommended for: Orthodontist, Gnathologist, Prosthetist, Dental Technician, General Dentist.

Lesson 18.Strategies for the treatment of TMD. Non-invasive treatment

– Strategies for theTMD treatment: scheme

– Non-invasive treatment: myogymnastics

– Myogymnastic exercises

– Prosthetic treatment: the use of an occlusal splint

– Criteria and indications for the manufacture of occlusal splints

– Repositioning splint: Gelb design

– Step-by-step protocols of working with splints.

Recommended for: Orthodontist, Gnathologist, Prosthetist, Dental Technician, General Dentist.

Lesson 19.Invasive treatment. Еmergency situations

– Invasive treatment vs hypertreatment

– Algorithm for choosing a strategy for the treatment of TMD

– TMD: tactics in emergency situations

– Treatment of patients with a pronounced psychoemotional component.

Recommended for: Orthodontist, Gnathologist, Prosthetist, Dental Technician, General Dentist.

Lesson 20.Working with occlusion in patients with TMD

– Frequency of influence of occlusion on therapeutic treatment

– Indications for changing occlusion in patients with TMD

– Prevention of relapses: modification of natural teeth

– Сlinical cases.

Recommended for: Orthodontist, Gnathologist, Prosthetist, Dental Technician, General Dentist.

Lesson 21.QA session 1

1. How to treat disc disfuntion with splints?

2. The “Check bite” method – registration of SCI using protrusion bites – is it relevant?

3. Checking the immediate desocclusion using SCI 25-30 degrees setting – is there any use?

4. Comparisson of occlusion equilibration in the mouth and in the articulator

5. What to do in case of encountering of grade III articular disc dislocation acute stage during orthodontic treatment?

6. Why do disfunction of TMJ appear after orthodontic treatment?

7. How to deal with occlusal disesthesia?

8. Occlusion during implant prosthetics

9. How to check reference position during condilograpgy?

10. What does physiotherapy include?

11. Is there any danger of intruding teeth in Gelb Splint design?

12. Could the SCI be changed durign person’s life?

13. Is it reqiured to treat grade III of articular disc dislocation after restoring of the range of mouth opening?

14. Features of electromyagrapgy usage

15. Botox therapy. Its relevance

16. How to avoid Sunday bite when reaching anterior therapeutic position in Class II-1?

17. How to increase the VDO in Class II patient with overjet and tooth wear without mandibular distalisation?

18. Distraction of TMJ on splint with reposition in case of disunion without reduction.

Recommended for: Orthodontist, Gnathologist, Prosthetist, Dental Technician, General Dentist.

Lesson 22.QA session 2

1. Guidance information: what inclination of the palatal side of upper incisors we have to do? What inclination of upper incisors we have to set on an incisal table in case of different sagittal condylar inclination of the right and left TMJ?

2. Splint therapy: what splint to use in case of combined TMD with internal derangement and muscle pain

3. Differential diagnosis: how to differentiate TMD from trigeminal neuralgia and tension like headache

4. Pre-ortho TMD care: what strategy to use when you performing initial therapy of TMD with splint and patient has to undergo orthodontic treatment. Would splint to use during orthodontic treatment?

5. Functional guarantee: can we guarantee to the patient that if we perform condilography and use customised settings of the articulator and do the Slavicec wax-up he wouldn’t have ceramic chipping or any TMD symptoms

6. Condylar inclincation assymetry: what to do in case of significant difference of sagittal condylar inclination between eight and left side when needed a total rehabilitation

7. Bennet movement: influence of immediate side shift on prosthetic restorations function.

Recommended for: Orthodontist, Gnathologist, Prosthetist, Dental Technician, General Dentist.