Introduction: In conditions where a chiropractor or dentist has reached a therapeutic impasse with a patient’s temporomandibular/craniomandibular disorders (TMD/CMD), co-treatment may be indicated.
Intervention: The treatment with these two patients had similar aspects in that they both presented with sacroiliac joint hypermobility syndrome (category two), cervical intersegmental restricted motion, and needed craniomandibular balancing therapeutic interventions.
Results: The essential findings in both cases showed reduced pain in TMJ function and/or symmetrical joint translation without crepitus. General relaxation in cervicocranial and craniomandibular musculature was noted by the patient, chiropractor and dentist. The focus was having the patient gain independence from chiropractic/dental care with reduced discomfort and increased function.
Discussion: Within a subset of patients body posture has been found to affect or be affected by dental occlusion, condylar position, and airway space. A main obstacle for chiropractic/dental co-treatment is the lack of awareness and knowledge of each other’s professional treatment and diagnostic focus as well terminology. A relationship has been found between ascending/descending and CMD/TMD and postural dysfunctions.
Conclusion: While these two cases illustrate how the chiropractic and dental fields can work together for successful treatment outcomes, there is a need to determine what subsets of patients may fit this model.
Author keywords: Chiropractic - Subluxation - Dentistry - TMD - Co-treatment
This abstract is reproduced with the permission of the publisher; click on the above link for free full text. Online access only.
|
