Vasileios Psarras
Short CV
Dr. Vassilis Psarras graduated from the Dental School of National & Kapodistrean University of Athens (NKUA). He has completed a full specialization program in Prosthodontics & Stomatognathic Physiology in Lund University, Sweden. He has a M.Sc degree from Lund University and a Doctor of Dentistry degree (Dr Od) from NKUA.
He is Ass. Professor and Director & Coordinator of the Stomatognathic Physiology for the undergraduate program, and Director & Coordinator of the Orofacial Pain Management Clinic and the Master’s postgraduate Program.
He is a member of Greek and international scientific societies (the Society of Oral Physiology, the European Prosthodontic Association, the European Academy of Craniomandibular Disorders) and a founding member and Secretary of the Greek Orofacial Pain Society. He has participated as an invited speaker in a large number of Greek and International conferences, workshops, seminars. He authored more than 100 papers, book chapters and a book on Principles of Stomatognathic Physiology & Occlusion.
He maintains a private practice in Athens, in which he helps patients with Craniomandibular disorders & Orofacial Pain, as well as Sleep disorders and Occlusion problems.
Lecture: Craniomandibular disorders and Orthodontics: An Evolution of Controversy
Craniomandibular disorders (CMD) comprise a group of musculoskeletal and neuromuscular conditions that lead to functional limitations and pain. The role of occlusion or malocclusion in causing CMD has been vigorously debated for years.
A significant part of the orthodontic specialty, consistent with the traditional gnathologic-prosthodontic view, believed that a. disharmonies of the occlusion and improper condyle position would cause CMD, b. orthodontic therapy could mitigate or cure CMD by correcting an existing malocclusion and the associated functional disharmony and improper Centric Relation (CR) position, and c. orthodontic treatment would predispose or cause CMD, when the functional occlusion/CR goals of the gnathologic-orthodontic aspect would have ignored or cannot be reached.
Current evidence-based literature concludes that the etiopathogenesis of CMD is multifactorial and fails to demonstrate a causal relationship between occlusal and condylar factors and CMD development. On the other hand, it is not very uncommon that orthodontic patients, especially adults, may have or will develop some local or systemic pathologies, during or after the orthodontic treatment that may result in pain and/or CMD signs and symptoms.
The management of these conditions requires thorough understanding of the underlying pathology and complex multidisciplinary treatment. It is therefore crucial for orthodontists to develop the diagnostic skills necessary to differentially diagnose CMD, and to understand the relationship between occlusion and CMD as well as orthodontic therapy and CMD problems.