Philosophy Statement of Practice 

“The purpose of this practice is to provide modern, sensible and technologically superior oral health care in a personalized and timely fashion that will serve not only to treat, protect and sustain our patients but also stand as a compassionate and vigilant guardian, for their sake, against untoward oral health circumstances that might befall them throughout the course of their lives in this complicated and unforgiving world.” 

– Terrance J. Spahl, Doctor of Dental Surgery

For more information on Dr. Spahl’s new book, click here. To read a review of Volume IV: The Clinical Management of the FJO/TMD/Migraine Continuum – by Dr. Terrance J Spahl, click here. 

• Certified Senior Instructor for the International Association of Orthodontics
• Principal author of a trilogy of Dr.Terrance J. Spahl: major scientific textbooks on orthodontics, maxillofacial orthopedics and TMJ therapeutics. “The Clinical Management of Basic Maxillofacial Orthopedic Appliances, Volume 1: Mechanics, Volume 11: Diagnostics, Volume III: Temporomandibular Joint, Mosby-Yearbook Inc., St. Louis, Missouri
• Lectured on the subject of orthodontics and TMD before both dental and medical groups. He has lectured for over three decades at seminars and dental meetings throughout the United States and Canada. He has also lectured in England, Spain, Peru, Brazil, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Australia and the Orient.
• Named “The Clinician of the Year” in 1992 by the American Association of Functional Orthodontics in Washington D.C. It is that organization’s highest award given annually to one individual.
• Served as a Dental Products Consultant with 3M Company 1973-1980
• Served as a Clinical Instructor for the Department of Radiology at the University of Minnesota in 1973
• Served on the Dental Surgery Committee of St. John’s Hospital in St. Paul
• Served as AAFO’s representative to the Alliance of TMD Organizations National Committee
• Served as Chairman of the Alliance of TMD organizations 2005-2006
• Orthodontic appliance design consultant and clinical lecturer for The Appliance Therapy Group and The Smile Foundation
• Authored numerous scientific articles and editorials for various professional journals on the subject of orthodontics/TMD
• Authored a chapter “Mas allade los pilares de Hercules” for the text “Bases dianosticas, terapeuticas y posturales del functionalism craniofacial, Tomo II for Dr. Eduardo Padros Serrat, published by Ripano Editorial Medica, Madrid, 2006
• Authored a chapter “Orthodontic Diagnosis and Treatment Planning with the Computer” for the text “Internationale Beitage Zur Kieferorthopadie” for Hans Peter Bimler, published by Quintessence Publishing Co. 1986
• Contributing Editor: The Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry, the Functional Orthodontist, and The International Journal of Orthodontics
• Developer of the Spahl Split Vertical (SSV) Orthodontic Appliance System
• Member of the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain
• Member of the American Association of Functional Orthodontics
• Member of the International Association for Orthodontics
• Member of the Consulting Board of the TMJ Institute of America
• Founding Member of the Appliance Therapy Group
• Member of the Board of the Functional Freedom Foundation
• After two years in the Air Force, he returned to a private practice in St. Paul
• Studied extensively at numerous post graduate courses in both this country and abroad, and under such noted lecturers as John Witzig, Phil Jones, Merle Bean, J.W. Truitt, Waldemar Brehm, William L. Wilson, Hans Eirew, Peter Dawson, and many others. He has also studied cephalometrics under the extended private tutelage of Dr. Hans Peter Bimler in Wiesbaden, Germany.
• Won the Senior Essay competition (as a dental student at the University of Minnesota), sponsored by the Minnesota Prosthodontics Society, for a paper on the relationship of speech defects to artificial dentures
• Obtained a B.S. and D.D.S. degrees from the University of Minnesota, completing his dental education in 1969
• Attended the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, 1962-1965
• Presented with the “Leon Pinsker Award” in 2013 by the International Association for Orthodontics, that organizations highest award given to a single individual once per year.
• Presented with the “Hayden-Stack Award” in 2013 by the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain, that organizations highest award given to a single individual per year.
• Presented with the “Lifetime Achievement Award” by the Appliance Therapy Practitioners Association in 2007

Dr. EmmaLee Spahl practices general family dentistry. Nicknamed “Dr. Emma” by her assistants so as not to be confused with Dr. T.J. Spahl, she has been practicing at Spahl Dentistry for the past 15 years. After graduating from the University of St. Thomas in 1995 with degrees in Chemistry and German, Dr. Emma went on to the University of Minnesota completing the Doctor of Dental Surgery program in 2000. Dr. Emma enjoys all aspects of dentistry with a special interest in aesthetic dentistry.

She maintains a conservative amalgam-free approach to treatment and is generally flexible regarding patient scheduling. Dr. Emma’s current extracurricular activities include participation in ADA/MDA events and she is an Executive Council member of the Saint Paul District Dental Society as well as being the chairperson of the social committee, where she enjoys planning fun, cheerful events that encourage the expansion of professional comradery and good fellowship..