Suppression of Movement Disorders by Jaw Realignment

Abstract

It is well established that movement disorders can develop from peripheral nerve injury in the craniocervical region [1,2]. Here, we discuss how mechanical realignment of the jaws and temporomandibular joints (TMJs) can be used to rapidly suppress a number of movement disorders, some of which may have been precipitated by peripheral nerve injury near the TMJ. It has been estimated that over 20% of adults have, or have had, internal derangement of the TMJ [3]. An internal derangement of the TMJ occurs when the cartilaginous disc that lies on the superior surface of the condyle becomes displaced from its normal location. In many cases of TMJ internal derangement, the auriculotemporal nerve (a small branch of the mandibular nerve) can become drawn into the compression zone of the TMJ. Neuroinflammation arising from an entrapped auriculotemporal nerve may spread to the trigeminal ganglion, or to the auriculotemporal nerve's projections, which are located in the spinal trigeminal nucleus and reticular formation of the brainstem [4]. We hypothesize that neuroinflammation in these …