The International College of Cranio-Mandibular Orthopedics www.ICCMO.org was founded in 1977. It was established for the stated purpose of serving dental professionals and the public as a resource for information, and the exchange of ideas, in this special field of dentistry called neuromuscular dentistry. The primary objectives of the College: 1. To understand the physiology of jaw function, and 2. To alleviate the widespread human suffering of those persons afflicted with head and neck pain and dysfunction.

Earlier in the twentieth century, dentists were pre occupied with the relationship of the upper and lower dentition.... in other words, they studied the “bite” and the meshing of the teeth in very intimate detail. Pain and dysfunction of the head, neck, and temporomandibular joints was thought to be the result of a mal-relation between the upper and lower teeth. So, correction and pain relief treatment was directed solely at the teeth.

In 1970, the father of neuromuscular dentistry, Dr. Bernard Jankelson, began to study the relationship of the upper and lower jaws by applying a medical model. In other words, instead of just considering the teeth, he also considered the muscles, nerves, bones and the two temporomandibular joints. He used the sciences of biology, physiology, and anatomy to develop what we now call the principles of neuromuscular dentistry.

Today, there is a broad range of application of these principles to the practice of dentistry. Think how much more beneficial orthodontic treatment would be if the orthodontist included a consideration of the health of all of the muscles, and both temporomandibular joints as an important part of the treatment plan to straighten the teeth. The same is also true of restorative dentistry and prosthetic dentistry, both of which deal with the replacement of missing or diseased teeth. And finally, since most “TMJ” patients suffer muscle pain along with their tm joint pain, a “splint” constructed using neuromuscular concepts is often the most effective appliance for relieving the pain.

In the beginning, these innovative concepts created controversy within the dental profession. But slowly, more and more dentists find it hard to argue with these scientifically based concepts. Today, many dentists consider themselves neuromuscular dentists. Many are long time members of the International College of Cranio-Mandibular Orthopedics (ICCMO). Their many successful treatment results speak for themselves, and their patients also benefit from the pioneering work of Dr. Barney Jankelson.