Dr. Summer has been actively involved in practice and research involving TMJ disorders for more than 30 years, attending national and international meetings. His early research was in anthropology, the epidemiology of TMJ disorders, craniofacial growth, and functional orthodontics. Later research involved clinical studies of TMJ disorders, disk dislocation, treatments for disk dislocation, and symptom relief. His most recent research involved a study of treatment for obstructive sleep apnea using a novel tongue holding device, a tongue rear depressor, and a soft palate elevator.
Dr. Summer sees patients at his office in Portland, Oregon and does pre-paid telephone consultations with patients and dentists all over the world. Dentists requesting a consult for a patient often send records, images, and casts of the patient's dentition in advance. Patients requesting a consult can also use skype or facetime for a consult that includes visuals.
Education:
1974 – 1979 University of Maryland Dental School D.D.S. 1979
1969 – 1973 Johns Hopkins University B.A., philosophy 1973
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Scientific papers:
- Summer J. Tinnitus and the TMJ. American Tinnitus Association Journal, v 12 (1) March 1987.
- Summer J. The functional irrelevance of traditional occlusal parameters. Presented at American Equilibration Society Annual Meeting, Chicago Febuary 1998.
- Summer J, Westesson P-L. Mandibular repositioning can be effective in treatment of reducing TMJ disk displacement. A long-term clinical and MR imaging follow-up. J Craniomandib Pract. v 15(2) April 1997.