Course Description: "Mastering GNM Micro Occlusion at the Next Level"
Teaching Method: Lecture and Hands-on Participation
Prerequisite: Levels 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and K7 Occlusal Evaluation System (Technical Training at OC).
CE Credit Hours: 16
AGD Subject Code(S): 184 Occlusal Adjustment/Therapy | 180/185 Occlusion/Appliance Therapy | 010 Basic Sciences | 200 Orofacial Pain
Level 7- Advanced GNM Micro-Occlusion/
Coronoplasty II
The Course That Completes the Circle — and Closes the Gaps That Others Leave Open
A 2-Day Masterclass Intensive Training by Clayton A. Chan, D.D.S.
This is where every GNM principle you have learned becomes a precise, reproducible clinical skill.
Are You Ready to Complete the Circle?
You have established the position, delivered the orthotic, and managed the trajectory. Level 7 is where the details of micro-occlusion — anterior disclusion, cuspid rise, Class IV interferences, and head posture — come together into a precise, reproducible clinical skill that closes even the most challenging cases with confidence.
This is where GNM mastery is further refined, finished and forged.
Where Gnathology and GNM Converge — and Cases Finally Close
The orthotic delivered. The trajectory established. Now what?
Level 7 takes you beyond myocentric DOT contacts into the precision world of advanced micro-occlusion — building on the GNM and gnathologic principles of Levels 1–5.
You Bring Your Own Orthotics
This is not a lecture-only course. Students bring their own orthotics and work through Dr. Chan's precise process for determining every contour and position of incline planes — "feeling" and experiencing firsthand how GNM philosophy fills in the missing gaps that exist in the restorative and TMD arena of clinical dentistry.
The How's and Why's of Tooth Preservation
In accordance with GNM principles, you will learn:
- How to adjust and refine teeth to establish complete occlusion consistent with a stable gneuromuscular system
- How anterior and posterior tooth form relate to optimal muscle function and condylar positioning at the next level.
- How to recognize and resolve the Class IV incline interference — a missing component in the classic coronoplasty teachings that commonly goes unrecognized in TMD primary, cervical dysfunction, Class II Div. 2, open bite, and advanced restorative cases beyond what you learned in Level 4.
This session is your second step toward healthy, predictable, stable occlusion.
Course Objectives:
- Review of Micro-Occlusion Principles — Refining the gnatho-neuromuscular principles of Anatomical Form & Function
- Analyze the details of the Occlusal Table — Cuspid Rise and Posterior Disclusion
- Review the importance of anatomical anterior form for optimal function — Cuspid rise, cuspid fall
- Discuss the significance of the Anterior Disclusive function & design of the Anterior Plane of Occlusion
- Train the clinician on the importance of anterior occlusive and disclusive movements
- Explain the importance of Anterior Transitions and Excursive Mandibular Movements
- Investigate the Class II Div. 2 (retro inclined maxillary anteriors)
- Solving the Class III end to end and prognathic occlusion
- Instruct the dentist to recognize the Class IV interference and its importance to resolving TMD symptoms, preventing a mis-diagnosis
- Recognizing the influencers of micro-occlusion — Head Posture and Its Effect on the Bite
- Managing the GNM Trajectory — Maintaining the GNM trajectory with coronoplasty
- Resurfacing the Orthosis — Rebuilding a Malocclusion — Subtractive or additive?
- Measuring with Instrumentation — Instrumentation and use of Scan 12
- What to Do at the Follow Up Coronoplasty Visits — Tips and protocols
- Live demonstration of coronoplasty and lab exercise will be done by attendees on mounted models
You Will Learn:
- The criteria necessary to achieve comfortable occlusion
- How anterior indexing and centric stops are critical in stabilizing joint laxity cases
- Why anterior disclusion is important to muscle tension resolution
- How to resurface the GNM orthosis
- How proprioceptive posturing is affected by micro-occlusal changes
- How to control and influence head tilt and posturing
- How to adjust the orthosis in Class II situations
- How to adjust the orthosis in Class III situations
- When to implement the anterior ramp
- How to design the cuspid inclination for optimal GNM function
- How to find the lateral interferences that you didn't know existed
- How to identify the Class IV occlusal interferences and what happens when it is missed
- How to handle retrusive contacts and inclines
- How to balance the protrusive movements
- How to resurface the orthosis on the GNM trajectory
About Your Teacher
Clayton A. Chan, D.D.S. — Founder, Director, and Teacher Occlusion Connections — The Center for Gneuromuscular Dentistry and Orthopedic Advancement
Dr. Chan's pioneering role in Gneuromuscular Dentistry has been recognized by peers worldwide for his ability to deliver outstanding care to patients and present the most advanced principles in dentistry and the treatment of TMD. It is this depth of clinical mastery and precision that makes Level 7 unlike any other course in the world.
What Doctors Say About Level 7
"The
training that you receive from taking Levels 1 through 7 at Occlusion
Connections with Dr Chan is an education in its purest form. It is more than a
set of procedures to help patients, more than an armamentarium to treat
disorders, more than a set of principles and skills, and more than
knowledge. It has a formative effect on
the way you think, feel, and act. It is
a paradigm shift. It is the most profound professional experience one can have
outside of dental school itself.
The
education of Levels 1-7 will affect every discipline of your dentistry: TMD,
Restorative, Orthodontics, Periodontics, Pediatric, Implants, Oral Surgery,
Endodontics, Prosthodontics, Sports Dentistry, Cosmetic Dentistry, and Practice
Management." —
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"In my first 10 years of practice, as I learned how to be a good dentist, I realized I needed to learn more about occlusion. I started with working with the well known gnathologists on multi-day courses, learning about orthotics and splints but realizing I knew less than before and continued to be confused.
Then I went through the entire curriculum of Neuromuscular
occlusion at LVI (Occlusion I, II and III, Advanced Anterior, CARP, more), and
was even taught by one of the pinnacles in NM occlusion, Dr. Bob Jankelson, and
my understanding grew. I was able to treat, resolve problems and plan for
success… BUT, there were some cases I could not resolve and the area’s I had
difficulty with made me very apprehensive in rebuilding mouths with fixed
prosthodontics.
And then along comes Clayton Chan with a new concept…Occlusion
Connections. It took me 4 years, but I completed all 7 levels at OC. Now the
classic gnathologic principles were married with the neuromuscular concepts.
It’s a marriage made in heaven. The NM establishes the 6 dimensional position,
and the G establishes the micro-occlusion to a degree that surpassed what I
learned elsewhere and voila, I now get better resolution in my pain patients
(especially after Level 7 – Advanced Micro Occlusion II, amazingly) and the confidence to
accept that I will be married to full mouth cases until I retire, and be OK
with that.
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"After level 7 this weekend I am even more convinced of what a special place Occlusion Connections is. One of the major aspects that has drawn me to Clayton and the O.C. courses is that they are not full of fluff. This weekend was not a review of things that I have been taught before. It was new fresh information. Level 7 is full of valuable content that is absolutely necessary if you are going to be doing any full mouth reconstruction. In addition everything I learned this weekend also has an everyday practical use. Working closely with Clayton and other O.C. doctors has allowed me to learn things that I could not elsewhere. O.C. is the only place I know of that teaches neuromuscular principles with the gnathology that is necessary to complete or full mouth reconstructions and deal with the daily situations that can haunt us in basic restorative dentistry. Clayton took the mystery out of the gnathology and explained it in simple terms. The hands on exercises wear practical and useful.
Years ago in my previous training I was taught to take a classic NM bite which gave me the confidence to treat my cosmetic and full mouth cases. I knew how to find the myocentric position. That was not an end all by any means. As we all know it is much more than just setting the bite to a certain position or a cursor on the screen that makes our cases successful. Even when the trajectories look perfect the case still may not be optimized. I can say in years past I had lots of great looking cases with correct trajectories but were not totally resolved. The combination of NM and gnathology is what I am finding is the key to my patients success. The micro occlusion principles taught this weekend are fantastic tools everyone on this forum should know (sorry for sounding preachy but it is true). It wasn't until working with O.C. that I could confidently say I can treat paining patients." — Joseph Willardsen, DDS, Las Vegas, NV
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"If you haven't taken Level 7, I highly recommend you do. It is the course that closes the loop of the full circle. If Level 1 made sure that you started treating the case properly, Level 7 teaches you how to finish even the most difficult cases confidently. I'm so glad we got the chance to immediately apply all the Level 7 teachings directly on Winston. (Talk about real-time learning!) He was the perfect example of an extremely highly proprioceptive patient. We saw for ourselves the critical importance of removing Class IV inteferences while still maintaining proper support in the extreme movements. We could see the instant relief on Winston's face when Dr. Chan took all the problem spots out. And we even got to verify it all on K7. What's great about this course is that all the concepts are applicable to everyday dentistry. It's not just for FM (full mouth reconstruction). Learning these concepts will definitely make you an incredibly skillful dentist. Thank you, Dr. Chan , for teaching this truly enlightening course." — Susan Yang G. Go, D.M.D., M.Sc, Delta, BC, Canada
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"Dear Jane and Clayton,
I want you to know how truly grateful I am to have taken the
GMN path. It has been a huge benefit to me and consequently the patients I am
able to help. Your awareness and acknowledgment, Clayton, in class of those of
us who knew neuromuscular was the way to go even though there were many bumps
and seemingly roadblocks along the way, was good to hear. Your stick-to-it-ness
and precision detective work is very much appreciated by me
-- and I know by many others. My NM life has been vastly improved since
starting the GNM journey. Many things that seemed so difficult or mysterious
have been cleared up and accomplished. Now seems I must tackle the orthotic
relines!!!
I am looking forward to ortho and scan interpretation. As I
mentioned I do ortho and have had some very challenging beginning cases which
have turned out well but I need to know a lot more. Ortho and removable
orthotics are my retirement plan. It is actually hard for me to think of not
doing this anymore because there are so few dentists who know and do what I now
know. There are so many people out there with TMD who don't know where to go
and need help.
The environment that you have created for your students is
something else I want to compliment you on. It is peaceful and uplifting and
honest. I enjoy being in the room. There is always such an amazing group of
doctors to be with. This does not happen without good leaders.
Thank you again.
With love and blessings to you both," — Dr. Ana Brightleaf, Santa Monica, CA
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