CNO2 WHY:

Dental professionals are often too quick to initiate treatment without firstly completing objective and thorough diagnostics in contrast to their medical counterparts. This is especially true for instances involving the occlusion. Restorative, implantology, orthodontic and orthognathic surgeries, orofacial pain and TMJ/D treatment outcomes in particular are often woefully inadequate resultant of poor diagnostic workups, if objective and reproducible diagnostics are even initiated at all. The orthopedic temporomandibular joints are 2/3 of the occlusion (which can be objectively analyzed via CBCT and MRI imaging), whilst the interaction of the dentition is 1/3 of the occlusion. All 3/3 can be vetted, objectively, and archived for future comparison, using technologies to measure muscular output, force/time interactions between opposing arches, and the kinesiology of the mandible. Importantly, confounding occlusal or orofacial pain issues can generally be vetted via the understanding that three main inputs are responsible for these issues: TRIGEMINAL/CERVICAL SENSORY/SYMPATHETIC inputs. CNO2 takes an amazing dive in to these diagnostic and treatment planning concepts, enabling both GPs and specialists to integrate objective diagnostics to implement successful treatment outcomes.

CNO2 HOW:

The Neural Occlusion Screening protocols were designed to follow the medical model, using objective metrics based upon sound research to objectively vet both the orthopedic TMJs and the occlusion via the integration of digital diagnostic technologies to include:

-TMJ MRI & CBCT Imaging to vet the orthopedic TMJ ligaments, cartilage and bone

-T-Scan digital occlusal analysis to assess and record force/time (f/t) contact of the opposing dentition in millisecond increments

-Electromyography of various iterations to objectively measure and record muscular output in millisecond increments

-T-Scan slaved to EMG to simultaneously study f/t and muscular output

-Digital jaw tracking to track and record mandibular movements throughout the entire range of motion

-Digital mastication analysis to objectively study and record muscular output and mandibular movements during mastication

-Velocity tracings using jaw tracking technology to objectively study and record the kinesiology of the mandible

-Diagnostic sympathetic blocks to vet the sympathetic and cervical sensory inputs in to the head and neck region

Once baseline diagnostic data has been gathered and recorded, treatment can be initiated, IF indicated, and subsequently Neural Occlusion Screening (NOS) can be reinitiated to objectively compare treatment results to the baseline data. No longer do subjective, “…so how do you feel?…” questions determine the success of outcomes, but rather objective and reproducible data can be used to evaluate success of treatment. More importantly, the NOS protocols point the practitioner towards the proper treatment plan based upon sound numerical, neurological and imaging evidence.