Connecting Heads

About

Exploring the Wider Role of Dentistry!

Dr Helen Jones BDS(Lond),LDS.RCS(Eng), MFGDP(UK),

FICD, ​Assoc.FCGDent, FPFA.

Retired specialist orthodontist.

By working with other health professionals we can achieve an outcome for our patients that is greater than that which can be achieved by working on our own. In the future I hope that the benefit of an integrated approach to treatment will be recognised and that dentistry will become just another branch within the faculty of medicine.

Connecting Heads should be of interest to all health professionals. The posts include  articles, interviews and videos relating to the paradigm shift which is taking place in the field of dentistry.

I have been a member of The British Society for Integrated Dentistry (formerly the Study of Cranio-Mandibular Disorders) since its inception in the late 80’s. The website: http://www.integrateddentistry.org.uk is currently being updated but the membership list is current.

Their journal, Cranio UK, is issued biannually and I have been actively involved.  I retired from clinical practice in 2010 but I continued to lecture for several years giving  presentations to final year students, at King’s Dental Institute (University of London) at the Guy’s campus and colleges of Osteopathy. I continue to give an annual presentation to the Osteopathic Centre for Children/Foundation for Paediatric Osteopathy.

Getting to understand what other disciplines can offer will help us form an integrated treatment plan to the benefit of our patients. Unfortunately, dentistry has become separated from mainstream medicine. The National Health Service system of funding is probably responsible for this mind set.

The benefits of interceptive and early treatment is still not recognised by traditionally trained orthodontists. Early in my orthodontic career I was fortunate to work with Dr John Mew and he introduced me to the Biobloc system. The stage 1 appliance gently develops the maxilla to its optimal size which, in turn, increases the airway. His son. Mike , has now developed the Mewing technique, using the power of the tongue and facial muscles to improve facial development.

In traditional orthodontics there is little emphasis on airway, muscle function and posture. This is where Cranial Osteopaths, Chiropractors and other body workers have an important role to play. The airway and early orthodontic connection is only now beginning to be recognised. In the near future it is hoped that a collaboration including ENT and peadiatricians becomes firmly established. Functional Orthodontists have recognised this for some time. The improved results that they have achieved through an integrated approach to treatment has been well documented. I feel that it is now time to encourage more  collaboration  between disciplines to further our understanding.

Biography

Dr Helen Jones trained at Guy’s Dental Hospital. She then worked in general dental practice and in hospitals both in the UK and in South Africa. She and her family returned to the UK in 1997 and she continued in general dental  practice but became increasingly interested in Orthodontics.

In 1982 she limited her practice to Orthodontics with a special interest in Dentofacial Orthopaedics and  Temporo-Mandibular Joint Disorders. In 1993 she attained the Membership of the Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK) and in 2001 she was placed on the Specialist register for Orthodontics by special appeal before a GDC panel. She retired from Stricklands Dental Fitness Centre, Haslemere, Surrey at the end of 2010.

She is married and lives in Surrey. She has three sons ( one in Sydney, Australia, one in Boston, USA and one in Surrey) and six grandchildren. Fortunately she loves travelling and her other interests are tennis,  gardening and the theatre. She is involved in village organisations and the parish church.

During the last twenty years she has lectured both in the UK and internationally. These have included presentations to general practitioners, osteopaths and chiropractors. She gave her third presentation to the final year dental students at Guy’s campus, King’s Dental Institute on 8 May, 2017 “Beyond BDS – Exploring the Wider Role of Dentistry.”

Past Presentations

King’s Dental Institute, Guy’s campus, final year students, 2015-2017

Osteopathic Centre for Children, London 2008 – 2020

International Growth Symposium 1999 UK, 2001 Japan, 2004 UK, 2005 Canada

European School of Osteopathy, Maidstone 2010

McTimoney College of Chiropractic, Abingdon 2011

Manus Sinistra, the student study group of the British School of Osteopathy, London 2011

American Association for Functional Orthodontics 1998, 1999, 2000 USA

Table Demonstrations:

British Society for General Dental Surgery 1995 – 2009 UK, India & Far East

Positions currently held:

Associate editor of the Cranial Journal 2002 –

Hon.Sec. & treasurer for the Functional Orthodontic Support Group 2005 –

Articles published:

Cranio UK – journal of the British Society for the Study of Cranio-Mandibular Disorders -regular articles

“Fulcrum” – May 2015 – journal for Cranio-Sacral Therapists -Exploring the Wider Role of Dentistry.

The Functional Orthodontist – 2000 -Second Molar Extractions – Two Case reports.

Past positions held:

British Society for the Study of Cranio-Mandibular Disorders,  Hon Sec 1992 – 2002

Panellist for the Dental Complaints Service 2005 – 2010

Member of the King’s Dental Circle 2015 – 2017

Past Association Membership

British Dental Association

South African Dental Association

British Orthodontic Society

European Orthodontic Society

American Association Of Orthodontics

American Association of Functional Orthodontics

World Federation of Orthodontics

Faculty of General Practice Royal Colleges UK