The place was South Korea, way back October of 1990 where Dr. Pablo and Lolita Fandialan stumbled into FJO & TMJ Dentistry – under the tutelage of Dr. John Wtizig, the founder of TMJ Institute of America – in Minnesota, a researcher and co-author of three (3) books in Functional Jaw Orthopedics and TMJ.
That short postgraduate course was well attended by over 250 Asian delegates and led by the Dr. Sang Duk Lee, then president of the Asian Academy of Functional Orthopedics and TMJ (AAAFOT).
During the fellowship night Dra. Fandialan had an opportunity to talk on her Functional Jaw Orthopedics practice in Manila. Majority were convinced including Witzig and Dr. Lee that she was already and authority in the field and advised the former to form a study group of which they promised their full support in terms of journals, visual aids, books and slides.
Full of enthusiasm and vigor in the newly discovered science, she formed a study group of 12 dentists with Dr. Samuel Fernandez as their adviser, they conducted weekly meeting with the Fandialans sharing what they have learned from school
The following year (August 1991), AAAFOT president, Dr. Sang Duk Lee gave a 2-day lecture on TMJ at the Hotel Nikko in Makati. Dr. Lee brought with him more than 1,500 slides and presented 20 fully documented and successful FJO & TMJ cases.
On the same year (October of 1991), with a handful of new member from the Philippine Section, they attended the advance course at Seoul and Pusan, Korea. It was on this occasion that Dr. J. Witzig & Dr. Sang Duk Lee formally awarded to the delegation, the flag of membership, plaque of membership, plaque of appointment to The Director of AAAFOT Philippine section Dr. Pablo Fandialan and the Constitution & By-Laws.
The occasion was very formal, festive, and dramatic was very memorable experience for a few virtually unknown dentist from Manila to be recognized and honored outside the Philippine territory.
From thereon to the present, the Fandialans have conducted so many chapter seminars short courses and outreach programs benefiting countless temporo-mandibular joint dysfunction sufferers, spreading the good news about TMJ Dentistry and has produced a large number of followers who are also making good in the practice of TMJ dentistry in the country.
The TMJ Pain Center is a mute testimony to the myriad of successful TMJ management performed everyday on people ranging from the common “tao” to the professionals, businessmen, people in government, rich and poor, and showbiz personalities.
