craniodontics
New Technology of the Twenty-First Century
By Gerald H. Smith ::: Langhorne, Pennsylvania
Reprinted with permission from Dr. Gerald H. Smith (ICNR.com)
The term Craniodontics has been coined by this author to focus attention on the fact that use of dental orthopedics/orthodontics or any restorative dental procedure that directly changes the occlusion will affect the alignment of the 22 cranial bones (excluding the 6 ear ossicles). The effectiveness of dental orthopedics in expanding the maxillae both transversely and sagittaly is well documented, however the time has come when dental practitioners must look beyond the parameters of the teeth and alveolar bone to the highly functional cranial system.
The Cranial, Dental, Sacral Complex
The cranial, dental, sacral complex is composed of our cranium, dental arches and teeth, spinal column and sacrum area. All the bones of the skull are connected not only through joints and/or sutures but also by muscles and the dural sheath.
Figure 1 ::: Parallel Planes of the Body
Dr. James Carlson observed that parallel relationships exist in the structurally stable human body which permit it to maintain balance. These parallel planes include the ear plane, eye plane, shoulder plane, elbow and knee planes and pelvic plane. Dr. Carlson's observation revealed that the upper jaw or maxillae was another anatomic part that was also parallel to these other planes.
Figure 2 ::: Dural Membranes
The cranial dural membranes act as stabilizers to the vault bones. Physical trauma (whiplash, injuries, blows to the head, forceful tooth extraction, etc.) and dental malocclusions have the potential to disrupt dural membrane balance and normal cranial rhythm. Such changes can cause adverse neurological function throughout the body.
Dental Malocclusion
Dental malocclusion (bad bite) like deep bite, cross bite (front or back), a constricted narrow upper arch, faulty crowns or dentures, high cant of maxilla, or underdeveloped lower jaw can all contribute to cranial distortion.
Figure 3 ::: Cranial Movement
The cranium is a dynamic structure that is in a constant state of micro-motion. This motion can occur because of the inherent flexibility of bones plus the presence of the expansion joints or sutures that lie between each bone. Architects design buildings, bridges and roads with specific leeway for expansion, contraction and torsion. Nature likewise provides for similar allowances in the flexibility of its hard and soft tissues and their interconnections.
Figure 4 ::: Reciprocal Body Movement
The body functions just like a slinky. A distortion at one end will be reflected to its area of compensation. For example, the bones of the hands and feet work reciprocally as well and the ankle and wrist, knee and elbow, pelvis and shoulders. One of the main connecting links of the body that enables this slinky effect to occur is the dural tube. Joint receptors and neuromuscular biofeedback provide other means by which the body functions reciprocally.
I hope it has become clear that imbalances in any part of this system can interfere with cranial motion and cause disease in our system. Physical traumas such as whiplash, injury to the neck or pelvis trauma from falling off a horse, bad posture caused by working in from of a computer extensively, and dental problems such as bad bite are examples of things that can disturb the balance in the system. These can cause cranial distortion and restrict cranial motion eliciting cranial symptoms such as headache, dizziness, numbness, muscle spasm, faulty digestion, jaw pain, irregular heart beat, tinnitus, migraines (figure 5), circulatory problems, chronic fatigue, sinusitis, constipation, neck ache, shoulder ache, eye pain and facial pain.
Figure 5 ::: Dental Connection
Patients with a deep overbite, underdeveloped lower jaw, cross bite or collapsed bite may experience cranial distortion and dural torque. Many of them suffer from headaches, migraines, neck and shoulder stiffness and lowe back pain. Some may have itchiness in the ears and many have clicking jaw joints.
Among the other dental conditions is conventional orthodontics that involved the amputation of premolar teeth to mechanically achieve esthetic arches by moving back the upper six front teeth. The caused restriction of the maxilla, palatine, vomer and sphenoid skull bones and contributed further to an already forward head position and loss of normal curvature of the cervical vertebra. Studies have shown that patients with the above treatment have a limited neck movement and compressed upper cervical vertebra especially at the level of C1 to C3. They are already at a disadvantage with regard to their dental, cervical and cranial balance. If these individuals are involved in an accident and experience a whiplash injury to their neck, they will never fully recover unless their structural imbalance is addressed.