> Cranial Bones & The Jaw
> CCSVI
> Neurodegenerative Disorders and Bite-Induced Cranial Trauma
> Bruxism and Temporal Bone Hypermobility in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis
> Q & A
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Executive Summary
Multiple Sclerosis is a disease which has been known for the last 100 years and yet its cause remains a mystery. No cure or prevention has ever been found. All that is known is that under certain conditions people suffer from the progressive loss of normal brain functions leading to disability sometimes with severe pain, dementia and even death. Current medical science only offers palliative treatment and some slowing of the disease process.
In 1978, during an assignment in his second year of dental school, Dr. D.E. Williams of Okotoks, Alberta, became aware of a close link between Multiple Sclerosis and tooth decay.1This early interest and a focus on the wider view of dentistry in general health lead him to the association between dental bite malfunctions and multiple sclerosis. From positive clinical experiences in stabilizing the bite of MS patients, Dr. Williams became convinced that the dental/MS connection was somehow related to the bones above the jaw joint. Through extensive dissections of cadavers he discovered the consistent presence of abnormally mobile squamousal sutures in MS and Alzheimer’s skulls. Dr. Williams has spent many hours investigating all aspects of brain disorders and skull integrity and has found numerous examples which have added credence to this theory. In-depth discussions with many professionals from all over the North American continent and abroad have led to respectful support and collaboration from an impressive list of experts.(letters) Fifteen years of literature research have shown a consistent pattern leading to the current level of understanding.
MS scientist Dr. Bruce Trapp of Cleveland said in April 2004: “There is a true missing link in our understanding of MS and we must be open to surprises”.2 Dr. Williams’ theory is the missing link since nothing that is inside the skull is responsible for the cause of these diseases. Forces originating from jaw clenching generate damaging pressure waves via skull bone deflection through the fluids that surround the brain tissues. Patients have reported significant improvements in their condition following standard bite corrections including MS patients.(letters) When examined in light of their most obvious deteriorations Alzheimer’s Dementia (AD), Parkinson’s (PD), Lou Gehrig’s (ALS) and Normopressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) appear to be totally disparate diseases. If they are examined from this new perspective the many commonalities begin to make sense.29
The physical relationship between the functioning components of the head (skull bones and bite) and the brain beneath them is significant. Nailing down the details now will set the stage for the development of relevant diagnostic devices, treatment protocols and bone stabilization hardware. This seminal paradigm shift will open a new discipline in health care for the human brain.
Neurodegenerative diseases
Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer’s Dementia (AD), Parkinson’s (PD), Lou Gehrig’s (ALS) and Normopressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) and many other named diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) remain largely untreatable due to the dearth of knowledge as to their cause. 3 The impact on employment, insurance companies, governments, families and personal suffering are beyond tragic. AD alone is predicted to cripple the American Healthcare system in six years if current trends continue.4
For many years each disease was focused on its own pathological signature. For example until several years ago the following issues were intensely examined and debated.
Within the last few years certain themes are being looked at for all of these diseases and commonalities are emerging on many fronts. For example:
Many of these eclectic investigations on a given theme point to a basic truth that some trauma is the instigating factor.20 “What trauma” is always the mystery? Autoimmunity, viruses, bacteria, toxins and physical injury are forms of trauma that have all been studied to exhaustion with no concrete conclusions.21 A brief externally derived force causing paroxysmal pressure spikes in the fluids surrounding the brain and spinal chord could be the missing traumatic factor. 22 The elucidation of the role of bruxism in Dr.Williams theory will show how this source of force contributes to diseases of the brain.
Bruxism or extreme jaw clenching combined with cranial bone instability are the essential components of this theory.
1.) Bruxism leads to rapid and chronic muscle hypertrophy with no upper limit.23,24, However there is evidence that extreme muscle forces are not necessarily always a part of the process.25,27 Trauma, genetics and hormonal influences could feasibly create conditions in which bone displacement would occur in normal jaws and even in non-bruxing or normal functioning.
2.) Ligament and bones that make up sutures respond slower and are profoundly influenced by genetics, trauma, tensile stress, hormone levels, and nutritional deficiencies of Vitamin C and D.26(In healthy normal individuals the unique squamous suture does not fuse until the seventh decade of life.) Given the right anatomy and combination of the above factors cranial structural integrity can be gradually, intermittently or permanently lost.
3.) Given the genetics of MS the cranial insufficiency found in the female and white races develops bilaterally leading to a uniform pattern of fluid pressure changes which, influenced by the limiting falx membranes produce pressure changes in the ventricles and focuses damage in the white matter.28
4.) Assuming a functional left/right jaw imbalance (which is very common in dentistry) asymmetrical muscle hypertrophy could lead to an age related deterioration within one temporal bone system. The resulting lop-sided loss of cranial integrity would lead to damage in the periphery of the fluids around the brain especially on one side. (but ultimately everywhere). This would match the damage pattern and disease process as seen in AD.
5.) Bruxism occurs at night between phases of sleep or briefly in various stages of stress and concentration during the day and its effects on the brain in susceptible, weakened skulls goes unnoticed.24
6.) The hydraulic effect of even slight bone movements would be paroxysmal and profoundly traumatic (although short lived) given the size of the calvarium and the small relative volume of displaceable fluids in and around the brain.
The forces that our jaws can generate under certain conditions are simply staggering. The highest recorded force at molar surfaces was measured at over 900 pounds.23 In normal patients clenching forces at night can exceed their day-time maximum capacity by three to six fold.27 This has to do with the way chewing reflexes are wired.25 The bite closing reflex is a brain stem or primitive function while protective, inhibitory and fine motor control of the jaw is a cortical or higher brain function; like when you bite your cheek or hit an unexpected seed pit while chewing . Sensory input and feedback responses are wired through the higher centers. When the higher thought centers are either intensely occupied with external issues during consciousness or drifting between sleep phases when unconscious, the more primitive closing reflex can generate uninhibited, class II leveraged forces without protective sensory interference. Stress has a direct impact on bruxism.
Action plan
Due to the “hard science” character of these developments, measurable results will expedite rapid development of devices, procedures and products to support clinical trials and government approvals. Timely media announcements of relevant findings will fuel the preparation of markets and delivery systems in the hands of health professionals.
1.) Pilot study to measure the bone shift in real time and correlate it with changes in Intracranial Pressure. (P2L2 device.)
Target date October 31st 2005
2.) Design and carry out full scale study. Determine if sleep studies are necessary.
Target date December 31st
3.) Compare clenching induced pressure levels to pathologic effects of other CSF pressure related diseases and existing animal studies.. February 28th 2006
4.) Design treatment protocols and engineer stabilization/monitoring devices.
Target Date to be determined.
5.) Design and carry out clinical study for testing of devices and procedures.
Target Date to be determined.
6.) Coordinate Cranial/Dental rehabilitation to produce long term stability.
Target Date to be determined.
7.) Extend use of diagnostics through the big five (MS, AD, PD, ALS, NPH) and on into other fields of neuroresearch including:epilepsy, schizophrenia, CNS trauma recovery, autism, cerebral palsy,
Conclusion
Twenty years of research has lead to a compelling theory that could provide hope and healthy outcomes in the lives of millions of people with crippling and fatal brain illnesses. The opportunity to produce such results is unprecedented and would encompass unsurpassed economic benefits.
Resources
(Any commissions from the sale
of these products will go directly
to Multiple Sclerosis research.)
ESSENTIAL MS
Alberta Canada