Head is positioned on top of the "neck bone-back bone-pelvic bone connection" of the skeletal system and delicately balanced by number of muscles, which controls extension and flexion.  The atlanto-axial system (skull and 1st neck bone relationship) allows the head to turn from the body, and inter-vertebral disk (disc) allows the body to bend side-to-side, front to back and in a circular movement.  Various muscles which support the head are directly and indirectly connected to the TMJs.  Whenever we move our head around, the bite and the TMJ position changes, because teeth and TMJs are in the same jaw bone.  In other words, if you have a bad or unstable bite, it can cause stress/distress to the TMJ, head, neck, back, and the entire body.

Many researchers and clinicians agree that the TMJ is the most complex and mysterious joint in our body.  Early embryonic development shows that a fetus begins to open its mouth in the womb 7-8 weeks after conception, before teeth or TMJs are formed.  Newborn babies do not need any jaw movement training to swallow milk or suck on a nipple.  Jaw and endocrine nerves have a common origin and, anterior teeth originate from the forebrain.  The cerebellum needs proper information via the fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve) to produce body postural changes and, the teeth/TMJ is directly related with the trigeminal nerve.

Some questions that arise then:

1)  Are the TM joints load bearing joints, or not?  If they are load bearing joints, where does the loading force go?  If it goes to the disc, is the disc tough enough and strong enough to bear the tremendous amount of force?

2)  Is the tooth-to-tooth relationship determined by the position and the condition of the TM joints, or is the position and condition of the TM joints determined by the tooth-to tooth relationship?

3)  What is the dynamic source of movement of the jaw and jaw joints?  If it is the muscles, then what makes the muscles act?  If it is the nerves, than what commands the nerves to send signals?  If it is the brain, than what factors influence the brain to interpret and make decisions? 

4)  Why do we call the trigeminal nerve the master cranial nerve among the 12 cranial nerves?  How closely are the teeth and TMJs related to the trigeminal nerve? 

5)  Do you agree that 1/1000 of an inch of occlusion (bite) imbalance can influence the trigeminal nervous system and, can cause TMJ disorders and body dysfunction?  If so, do you know how to identify it and correct this micron level of imbalance?

6)  Can tapping teeth together send a signal to the brain through the Trigeminal nervous system?

If these questions could be answered, it would greatly assist in solving the patient’s pain and dysfunctions.   

Pain and dysfunctions in the human body provide a challenge to the clinicians and, are frustrating to those who are afflicted at their failure of treatment.  Numerous researches, text books, lectures, websites, and organizations illustrate that various pains and dysfunctions are related with bite and TMJ disorders and, claim that these symptoms can be treated by correcting the bite and TMJ.  However, on the other hand, many respectful professionals are claiming that the bite and TMJ has nothing to do with jaw pain, headache, facial pain, neck pain, back pain, and other symptoms and dysfunction of the body.   Following is  abstracted from a certain TMJ expert's website: "In reality however, 99% of people do not have true 'TMJ' problems. Unless trauma or injury is involved, pain from the joint comes from the surrounding muscles and get them relaxed, then the majority of symptoms will resolve".  They classify TMJ symptom as one of many other chronic pain symptoms and proud of their pain management knowledge and skills by giving various drugs, injections, skillful surgeries and multiple management modalities and do not seriously try to approach through dental mode.  If any dentist believe only 1% of  patients are "true TMJ" problem,  he should not claim himself as a "TMJ-dentist" but claim as a pain management practitioner.

We must take the status of the TMJ as the status of the body.  If you are able to assess the whole body function relating it to the TMJ, and if you are able to balance the occlusion accordingly, you may be able to balance the entire body.  Natural healing is the highest expression of 'Nature’s Competence' and you just need to provide the most desirable 'Homeostasis' to the body.  Let's not say "there is no cure".   We do not have all the answer yet, but when the time comes and unveil our foggy thinking, we may have a clear answer.

Is it reasonable to make our treatment goal to:  acquire a comfortable dentition and TMJ position that is in balance with the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and body functions?  If so, then we may be able to achieve this goal by following the basic principles of treatment:  1)  Relieve stress which comes from dental and other origins; 2)  Correct the jaw joint relationship to the physiologically balanced position; 3)  Establish a proper vertical dimension and natural plane of occlusion to the upper and lower jaw; 4)  Correct individual teeth bite relationship to distribute the resultant force vector in fair portion.

Pioneers are the people who go with fact.  Followers will confirm it and theorize it later.  For example, acupuncture therapy has been practiced for thousands of years without scientific proof of its exact mechanism.  Yet, modern medicine began to theorize it in the last three decades.  Pioneers, Willie May, DDS., Aelred Fonder, DDS., Harold Gelb, DDS., Daniel Gole, DDS are firm believers of "Dental Distress Syndrome".  If you can identify and remove dental distress, establish proper vertical dimension and physiologically balance the natural plane of occlusion to the upper and low jaw, which is dictated by your own neuromusculoskeletal system, then it can do amazing things for your entire body.  If someone knows how to control this phenomenon, he may be able to control the entire body function and further, be able to relieve pain.  The echoes are beginning to become familiar to many who have looked hard enough and pondered long enough to harmonize the body structure, body chemistry, emotional/psychological component, toxic component, and sleep-related breathing disorders of the patient.  

I still do not fully understand why God told Moses to let slave go free if the master broke a slave's tooth, but I do now understand that if you lose one of the key teeth in your mouth, it can influence your entire body and can compromise your health, even disabling your ability to do hard labor.


PS: I do not claim that all my knowledge is correct.  If you have any different views, opinions, and findings, I welcome you to E-mail me. (tmjdrkim@yahoo.com)