When Dr. Bernard Jankelson, a renowned prosthodontist, founded Myotronics in 1964 after creating prototypes of bioelectrical instruments to relax the mandibular postural muscles and graphically reproduce mandibular movements, he could not have foreseen the significant impact he would have on the field of dentistry. After the release of the J-2 Myo-Monitor in 1969, which was the first commercially available TENS for dentistry, doctors worldwide began to show interest in new treatment and diagnostic methods for dental patients. The K-1 Kinesiograph, released in 1971, became a landmark in computerized mandibular scanning and marked the beginning of dentists worldwide participating in Dr. Jankelson's new dental diagnostic theory: Neuromuscular Dentistry.
Neuromuscular Dentistry is a widely recognized and established procedure in the field of dentistry. Over time, advancements in concepts and instrumentation have led to its excellence, and many doctors around the world regularly practice it in their clinics.
The Neuromuscular theory is based on the identification of the physiological Rest Position (RP) of the mandible. This position can be achieved by relaxing the postural muscles of the mandible through the use of TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation). The RP represents a relaxed position of the mandible relative to occlusion, providing the practitioner with a starting point for establishing a new Centric Occlusion (CO) called Myo-Centric. This process is documented live during computerized mandibular scanning, giving the practitioner the ability to measure and precisely locate this new centric.
Neuromuscular Orthodontics (NO) is the application of this process to establish orthodontic treatment objectives that focus on function. NO takes into consideration the muscles, fascia, nerves, and all other tissues involved in the stomatognathic system, as well as the TMJ and teeth. For too long, dentists have focused solely on the teeth for a mechanical interpretation of occlusion, ignoring the other two essential components of functional occlusion: muscles and TMJ. Mandibular posture plays a crucial role in this picture, and recent research has shown a close connection with body posture. This holistic scientific approach represents a major breakthrough in general dentistry and orthodontics, providing dentists with the ability to uncover the hidden physiological characteristics of each individual.
Savasystem encompasses Neuromuscular Orthodontics in both its diagnostic and treatment procedures.