과거에는 생각지 못했던 치료방법이 속속 등장하고 환자들이 좀더 양질의 치료를 요구함에 따라 의과에서뿐만 아니라 치과에서도 다양한 특수클리닉이 개설돼 있다. 치과에서의 특수클리닉은 구취 클리닉, 임프란트 클리닉, 장애자 클리닉, 레이저 클리닉, 구순구개열클리닉 등이 있으며 이러한 특수클리닉은 의료의 질 향상과 환자의 편의를 도모하면서 점차 확대양상을 보이고 있다. 11개 치대병원을 중심으로 하여 특수클리닉의 현황과 장단점, 앞으로의 전망에 대해 살펴본다.

Arthrocentesis is a simple, less invasive, inexpensive, and highly efficient procedure for closed lock of the temporomandibular joint with regard to the lack of recurrence of symptoms during extended periods of follow-up and significiant improvement in pain and jaw function. It can be performed under local anesthesia. Arthrocentesis closed lock provide sustained normal joint function and marked pain relief. This study is the clinical outcome of arthrocentesis for closed lock of the temporomandibular joint. 160 patients(169 joints) who had experienced sudden-onset, persistent limited mouth opening were the subjects of this study. Arthrocentesis of the upper compartment of the affected TMJ was performed using normal saline. As results, at 3-60 months postarthrocentesis maximum mouth opening(MMO) had increased from mean of 27.7mm to 43.5mm, contralateral movements(CLM) from mean 5.74mm to 9.55mm, midline deviation during mouth opening from mean 3.04mm to 0.69mm. In 130 cases there was a history of joint noises, in 52 cases all noise had ceased after procedures.