Suppression of movement disorders by jaw realignment.

It has been estimated that over 20% of adults have, or have had, internal derangement of the TMJ [3]. An internal derangement of the TMJ occurs when the cartilaginous disc that lies on the superior surface of the condyle becomes displaced from its normal location. In many cases of TMJ internal derangement, the auriculotemporal nerve (a small branch of the mandibular nerve) can become drawn into the compression zone of the TMJ. Neuroinflammation arising from an entrapped auriculotemporal nerve may spread to the trigeminal ganglion, or to the auriculotemporal nerve’s projections, which are located in the spinal trigeminal nucleus and reticular formation of the brainstem [4]. We hypothesize that neuroinflammation in these later sites could act as physiological drivers for aberrant reflexive behaviors, as well as suprabrainstem changes within the nervous system. The trigeminal nerve is a tonic regulator of the reticular formation, and thus has strong influence on the brainstem’s sensorimotor circuits [4]. Posture and locomotion, in particular, are controlled within descending motor pathways of the brainstem’s reticular formation.