Who wants to treat disease, must understand health
Basis of the therapy concept
The therapy concept goes back to the American biologist and
dentist Dr. Robert Lee. In the course of his professional life,
he examined almost 2000 people whose own teeth showed a
healthy, physiologically functioning masticatory system. He was
able to gain important insights into the physiological,
functional relationships between teeth, masticatory muscles and
temporomandibular joints. With his research, he created the
precise description of naturally functioning, healthy
mastication.
In doing so, he created an understanding of healthy biting and chewing, the restoration of which is the central goal of dentokinetics therapy.
Aim of the therapy concept
Classical dental functional therapy concepts are based on
experience in the production of dental prosthetics. They are
based on thinking in terms of rigid plaster models, with a
one-dimensional view of the teeth as an isolated system in the
"articulator" (chewing simulator).
Dentokinetics considers the stomatognathic system (masticatory
system including teeth, temporomandibular joints and
masticatory muscles) as an integrated, organic structure, which
as a central component of the body interacts with it in a
variety of ways. In therapy, interactions of both ascending and
descending functional chains, local tooth movements caused by
changing load vectors and regeneration processes of the
temporomandibular joints are taken into account.
The change and improvement from a pathologically disturbed to a
physiologically functioning stomatognathic system is the
central part of the therapy concept.
A Mago splint, modified to meet the requirements of
dentokinetics, is used as a diagnostic and therapeutic agent.
The therapy concept of dentokinetics takes the interactions of
ascending and descending muscle and fascia chains into account,
as well as the consideration of the internal organs and the
immune system, up to and including the psyche. The therapeutic
goal is to provide patients with complex disorders of the
stomatognathic and postural systems with a long-lasting freedom
from symptoms, based on a causal, interdisciplinary treatment.
The physiologically stable temporomandibular joint position
determined with the aid of the modified Mago splint is
permanently ensured by reshaping the teeth in perfect relation
to the regenerated temporomandibular joints.
A basic understanding of related specialties is one of the
necessary skills of the dentokinetic dentist. These include
physiotherapy, osteopathy, speech therapy, optometry, neurology
and other specialties.
Dentokinetics therapy: two phases
CMD therapy according to the Dentokinetics concept consists of two phases:
Mago splint therapy , which restores the temporomandibular joints and musculature to their healthy function, and
reshaping of the teeth so that the bite once again matches the correct position of the temporomandibular joints.
The splint therapy
The dentist takes precise impressions of the teeth and a set of registrations to determine the movements of the lower jaw and a better position of the temporomandibular joints. Then he orders a dentokinetic splint to be made. It differs from the well-known "grinding splints" in that it does not simply cover the teeth, but simulates a new, healthier bite situation. In this, the teeth touch the splint in the improved position of the temporomandibular joints. In several subsequent sessions, the dentist checks how the position of the temporomandibular joints has changed according to dentokinetic principles and adjusts the dentokinetic splint to these changes with high precision. This is because without forcing the teeth and with the repeated adjustment of the splint to the regeneration processes of the temporomandibular joints, they find their optimal, healthy position bit by bit. The dentist follows this process by changing the splint to follow the progressive regeneration and by enabling the next regeneration step with each adjustment. In addition to dental therapy, further treatments by physiotherapists, osteopaths and other co-therapists are necessary to relieve tension or increase mobility. Dentokinetics pays special attention to the interaction of the entire body. Already after a few weeks, at the latest after 3-4 months, most patients experience a significant alleviation of symptoms. This provides the certainty that the existing complaints are related to CMD before further treatment is initiated.
When the position of the temporomandibular joints no longer changes and the symptoms of the disease have subsided, the splint therapy is complete. In most cases, this is the time after six to nine months. If no treatment success is seen after a certain period of time, the splint therapy can be discontinued at any time to avoid unnecessary effort.
The reshaping of the teeth
After successful splint therapy, the dentist must use models of the status quo to find a way to make the teeth fit the optimal position of the temporomandibular joints by reshaping the teeth. To do this, the dentist simulates the new tooth shapes on the individual models of the upper and lower jaws according to dentokinetic criteria that take the natural, non-worn teeth as a model. He then implements this new tooth image by reshaping the teeth. Each tooth is treated as gently as possible. In every case, the result is perfectly restored, aesthetically pleasing teeth and a whole new quality of life.
Scientific status
The clinical picture of CMD and the relationships that lead to the extensive complaints have been researched and are undisputed among scientists. It is assumed that around eight percent of the population suffer from CMD. The variety of splint therapies and treatment recommendations used to treat CMD is diverse, highly variable and confusing, and the scientific assessment is subsequently inconsistent. Dentokinetics is the only therapy concept that consistently takes into account the orientation towards the healthy function of the masticatory system and the interactions with the rest of the body. Experience with dentokinetics has been consistently positive. The procedure allows for maximum safety in every step of therapy. Numerous patients are already permanently enjoying their new quality of life.
Case study
Massive sunken (deep) bite and crossbite of the left canines. The patient had frequent back pain and was unable to chew hard foods for longer without discomfort.
This case could be solved only with orthodontic pretreatment
(braces). After the teeth were rearranged with braces, splint
therapy was performed until the temporomandibular joints were
in their healthy, stable position.
The necessity of pre-treatment with braces is rather rare.
Once the stable, healthy position of the temporomandibular
joints was achieved and the patient was completely free of
symptoms, a simulation of the desired bite situation was
produced as part of the final therapy planning.
(Zahntechnik Blum, Pfullingen, Germany)
The final situation shows the newly produced healthy bite in the optimal, healthy temporomandibular joint position. The patient has since been permanently free of complaints and can chew any type of food without restriction.
