The Dental Definition
An environmentally (nutritional deficiency) induced force on the maxilla or maxillary teeth resulting in the position of the maxilla or maxillary teeth to be retrognathic relative to optimal position (genetic potential).
The SOT-Cranial Definition
The headgear effect (HGE) or distortion pattern is due to the narrowing of the face and skull which keeps the cranial system restricted and unable to release all the way into its flexion stage, keeping the cranial rhythm impulse (CRI) restricted. This leaves the cranial motion diminished with an increased predisposition for the system to have extension lesions or fixation.
In SOT this would find most of our cranial faults that we identify to be always in internal rotation or extension. There would be a sympathetic stimulus imbalance to the systems creating a constant state of musculo-skeletal tension due to the adaptive and compensating mechanism in the body. The second half of the HGE is the jamming and distortion of the cranial sutures and bone.
The longer the system has been adapting to this condition the more complex the distortions. The pressure on the cranium produces stress in all the sutures and distorts the shape of the cranium. The muscle tension will cause a torquing that originates in the sub-occipital region pulling anterior through the cranial vault and into the frontal bone, where there will be more of a dropping or inferior pull which transmits through all of the facial bones and sutures. The maxilla, malar, and mandible are being pulled inferiorly, posteiorly, and medially.
The Effects
Retrognathic maxillary posture, maxillary distortion in the form of high palatal vault, retrognathic mandibular posture, mandibular posture (over closed or over opened), airway compromise in the nasal, naso- pharynx, or oro-pharynx passages, cervical postural and mechanical compromise (forward head posture), increased thoracic postural and mechanical compromise (kyphosis), and potential lumbar, pelvic and lower extremity involvement.
Secondary Distortions include Sub-occipital tension, loss of cervical curve and forward head posture, decreased lumbar curve and/or increased lumbo-sacral disc angle, unstable SI joint, forward or anterior hand position in standing posture, pain in feet and poor foot mechanics. Muscle tension and spasm will be present any of the areas listed here.
How It Happens
Distorted growth patterns due to airway compromise; distorted growth patterns due to nutritional deficiencies; distorted myofunctional patterns due to birthing and rearing practices; orthodontic forces; stress or pain eliciting sympathetic stimulus and increased muscle tension; chronic pain, including psychological, emotional, and skeletal pain anywhere in the body, especially the TMJ.
Changing bite doesn’t always fix problem; Advancing mandible doesn’t always stop snoring; Functional appliances don’t always work; Airway is more fundamental building block of physiology than occlusion; Chronic pain regardless of location, will perpetuate sympathetic overload.
Treatment Elements
With HGE in mind, Dr. Gerardo and Dr. Johnson integrate their treatment modalities where and when appropriate. Elements involved in negating HGE are dental arch development to open the airway, jaw joint mobilization and muscle therapy, myofunctional appliances, myofascial therapy, specific chiropractic adjustments to the spine, cranial manipulations, sutural release, dietary counseling and nutritional supplements.
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