Dr Barney Jankelson was a Seattle prosthodontist who was the first dentist to look at correcting the underlying muscle physiology when treating patients with chronic pain problems. Like ll great men he entered unchartered territory and the initial response of the dental community was to attack his theories even though they were founded on basic physiological priciples. The real reason for the initial anger toward Dr Jankelson was that he began to measure physiological variables and his measurements (measured facts) trumped the opinions of the "Experts" in the field. If his theories were correct than the careers of these "experts" were no longer very important.
A favorite statement of Dr Jankelson was "IF IT IS MEASURED IT IS A FACT, OTHERWISE IT IS AN OPINION". As a scientist he always preferred measured facts to the "opinions of self proclaimed experts"
This led many to attack not just Dr Jankelsons theories and advances in practice but also created a backlash at the tools used to relax the musculature and measure the results. If the tools could be discredited then the "facts" would no longer be a problem. Ths thinkinking delayed advancements in dentistry for many years. The fact that these tools were used in every other field of medicine eventually led to their wie acceptance in Dentistry.
The Las Vegas Institute(LVI) under the steady hand of Dr William Dickerson took a determined lead in the wiedspread acceptance of Neuromuscular Dentistry.
Dr Dickerson recruited Dr Robert Jankelson, Dr Norman Thomas and Dr Jim Garry as instructors in Neuromuscular Dental Education at LVI. The three top Neuromuscular Dentists and researchers in the United States. Dr Norman Thomas PhD is the worlds leading expert in the physiology and anatomy that underlies all Neuromuscular Dental Concepts and is in charge of Neuromuscular Dentistry at LVI.
Dr Jim Garry was the leading expert on the developmental aspects of neuromuscular health and/or dysfunction starting in new born infants. His work is still cutting ege years after his eath.
entists and patients with chronic pain owe a great debt to these pioneers of Neuromuscular Dentistry
