The Academy of Applied Myofuntional Sciences 5th congresse, 1-30 August 2020
This conference brings together some remarkable professionals from a variety of backgrounds:Derek Mahony, John Mew, Mike Mew, Barry Raphael, Gavin James, Ted Belfour, Kevin Boyd, Mark Cruz,Michael Gelb, Bill Hang, David McIntosh, Patrick McKeown, Joy Moeller, James Nestor, Darick Nordstrom,German Ramirez, Gill Rapley, Yue Weng Cheu – some of the names on the programme which has just over 100 speakers.
Oral dysfunction as a cause of malocclusion Linda D’Onofrio 10 May 2019
An exceptionally well written article which was published in the journal of Orthodontics & Cranial Research.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ocr.12277
“This narrative review surveys current research demonstrating how oral dysfunction can escalate into malocclusion, acquired craniofacial disorder and contribute to generational dysfunction, disorder and disease.”
This is such an important aspect but which is sadly completely overlooked in the current establishment approach to the treatment of malocclusion.
LindaD’Onofrio, MA CCC-SLP, is a certified speech-language pathologist specializing in craniofacial disorders, structural and motor-based speech disorders, feeding and oromyofunctional disorders, social cognitive disorders, and developmental speech-language disorders. She a past president of the Oregon Speech-Language Hearing Association and presents and teaches on her areas of specialty.
Joe Rogan interviews James Nestor
Joe Rogan interviews James Nestor, author of the recently published book “Breath”.
12th Annual Presentation to the Osteopathic Centre for Children, London.
The Osteopathic Centre for Children is now amalgamated with the new Foundation for Paediatric Osteopathy.
“The Effect of Jaw Problems on the Rest of the Body” was the title of my presentation. This time by Zoom!
12 participants tuned in from various regions of the country. The aim of the lecture was to inroduce the concept of an integrated approach to treatment involving dentists/orthodontists, ENT specialists and Myofunctional therapists. Ostepaths and Chiropractors also have their part to play , especially in early diagnosis and treating cranial strains.
Their is now a heightened awareness of the need to establish a good airway and nasal breathing in the early years in order to achieve optimal oxygenation for health and wellbeing.
Whole Body Connection
An in depth comment by Dr Derek Mahony, Specialist Orthodontist, Sydney, New South Wales Australia, from an on-going correspondence.
- I would avoid talking about bulging of the skull, better to refer to jamming of the cranial sutures which we know are expansion/contraction joints with a blood supply. There are over 300 published papers that show cranial suture movement and histologically the sutures are almost identical to periodontal fibres that allow micro movements of the teeth
- The reciprocal relationship between the C spine and the lumbar spine is called the Lovett Brother relationship. When one is out the other is also out therefore very hard for a chiro to stabilise the lumbar spine in a patient with a C spine that is subluxated because of a forward head posture to open an airway
- The meningeal or dural system connects the head to the pelvis. Within the skull you have the tentorum cerebelli and the falx cerebri that pass out through the foramen magnum attaching at C1, 2 and 3 before reattaching at the sacrum. Any tension in this system has the potential to cause pain.
- Casey Gauzy proposed a theory called Quadrant Theorem in the 70’s whilst in Chicago. He clearly demonstrated that the physiological point of rotation of the mandible is C3 not the glenoid fossa of the TMJ. What this means in reality is that patients’ with a retruded mandible, either naturally or iatrogenically often have a displaced C3, usually a rotation which affects normal lordotic curvature of the neck and consequentially the rest of the spine must compensate. I have a really nice CT scan of a patient with retruded mandible post exo ortho, diminished airway and rotated C3 if you want it. (NB. also available by using my contact form).
- Your cranial assessment is spot on. I would also talk about the sphenoid bone too. Explain the relationship of the maxilla to sphenoid in ortho terms (SNA and SNB). The sphenoid is the central bone of the skull, many chiros regard it as the “real” first vertebrae of the spine. It can be in a roll/pitch/yaw position and is often torqued by a retruded maxilla.
- Mention the ALF appliance and how Darick Nordstrom developed it with his osteopath, Tasha Turzo to balance cranial strains prior to orthopaedic and orthodontic work.
- Gerry Smith has a good DVD series about the ALF and a good book called the “Cranial sacral dental complex” available on his website.
- Differentiate internal and external derangements of the TMJ. Muscle splinting to protect the joint causes a lot of craniofacial and neck pain.
- In my clinical practice treating head, neck and spine disorders I found that the patients that didn’t respond to localised treatments of the spine within a few sessions all have cranial strains and malocclusions with or without extractions. Problems of the spine are almost always descending in nature, you must correct the head and occlusion for any chiropractic adjustment to hold long term.
Prevent Crooked Teeth Campaign
For decades crooked teeth have been accepted as just bad luck – a genetic inevitability that often requires extractions and fixed braces. This is seen almost as a rite of passage for teenagers. However, there is increasing awareness that such treatment can exacerbate obstructive sleep apnoea and TMJ disorders, leaving people with a lifetime of health problems.
The petition has 15,747 signatures to date, 22 September 2020.
This is a global petition so anyone can sign.
I do hope that many of you reading this will want to get involved.
Working Towards a Common Goal
This excellent Zoom Presentation on Facebook, 17 May, Sunday 07.00 Queensland time & Saturday 16,May, 22.00 UK. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9Fwtbnsioc
Dr David McIntosh, ENT surgeon, associate professor, Queensland, Australia, and Dr Bill Harrell, Orthodontist with an interest in Dental Sleep Medicine, Alabama,USA, discussed the roles which each of them could perform to improve a patient’s airway. This integrative approach to treatment has been completely overlooked as dentistry and medicine advanced but along separate pathways.
The connection between a compromised airway and health issues has been recognised for many years. Dr McIntosh recalls that Joe, the fat boy, in Charles Dickens’ Pickwick Papers, presents with a sleep disturbance which later became known as “obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome”.
Sleep disorder breathing (SDB) results in lowered blood oxygenation leading to reduced brain activity.
During nasal breathing nitric acid from the paranasal sinuses is added to the air. This substance has a multitude of roles in the working of the body and one of significance is its affect on the growth hormone. Mouth breathing misses out on this most important compound.
Methods of treatment were discussed and the role of CPAP together with Oral Advancement Therapy was found to be a good combination as it reduced the reliance on the CPAP machine, which many patients find uncomfortable or impractical on a full time basis.
The message was:
– Screen routinely for Sleep Disordered Breathing.
– Correct the airway early & establish nasal breathing – 50% of facial growth is completed by the age of 5, 80% by 8 & 90% by 12-14.
– Medicine and Dentistry should be working together to fulfil these goals.
It’s time to put the mouth back in the body.
Dr Derek Mahony’s recent video
Here is the link:
