GNEUROMUSCULAR DENTAL RESEARCH GROUP

INSIGHT – A GNEUROMUSCULAR Based Dental Research GROUP

CENTER for CLINICAL RESEARCH






Objective and Mission of NMD Research Group:

Establishing an organized research group is needed to counter the claims of the academic and clinical antagonist who seek to convey a national and international message that TMD is a psycho-social phenomenon unrelated to occlusion rather than acknowledging the correlating bio-physiologic relationship between the masticatory system (teeth, musculature, temporomandibular joints and the central nervous system) and the skeletal postural system.
There has been a long standing need for controlled clinical studies that could objectively and subjectively validate patient responses to occlusal therapy within the dental profession. Correlation of musculoskeletal, craniomandibular, and oral-facial pain dysfunctions as they relate to teeth contact (occlusion) and their orientation of the maxillary to mandibular relationships and the surrounding musculature has been strongly debated and disparaged to indicate no scientific basis or claim that occlusion and Tempormandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMD/TMJ) has any clear cut correlation to patient symptomology.
Within the neuromuscular arena scientific tests and protocols must be established by clinical dentist who desire to participate in on going clinical research designed to validate present claims that are spoken and advocated. These are professionals who are dedicated to ethical and honest objective data recording and reporting of their K7 findings of their cases nationally and internationally.
Without up to date on going scientific neuromuscular research and investigation the dental profession and clinical dentist cannot progress in an objective manner. Applying the principles and knowledge gathered from by this research group will ensure scientific protocols, standards and techniques that will assist the dentist in providing the highest standards of care to their patient's.

Purpose:The purpose of the Gneuromuscular Research Group (GRG) is:

1. To raise the bar of learning and understanding related to objective K7 data and scan interpretation.
2. To gather objective and scientific data in the clinical setting.
3. To provide up to data information of scan data and its clinical significance.
4. To establish clinical parameters, protocols and standardized techniques to the dentist nationally and internationally.
5. To validate present claims that are spoken and advocated by leaders.
6. To bring accountability with objective science.
7. To enhance and promote an appreciation among the dental professional the validity the neuromuscular sciences in dentistry.

Projects of Research:
K7 projects will be proposed and identified by the Centers Executive Research Committee/Team.

A questionnaire will be sent to each clinical associate to obtain subject vs. control matrixes to begin evaluating EMG (electromyography) and CMS (computerized mandibular scanning) data that is already stored or gathered in the K7 data base of each research associate.

Most studies will require about 30 controls and 30 subjects for a valid statistical evaluation.

An evaluating committee will analyze the incoming data and report their findings back to the research associates and those who are involved in the research group.

A purpose statement, method in which a particular scan will be used, what type of patient and data will be identified prior to data gathering in order to standardize the study.

Results gathered of a particular study will be posted to all clinical research associates and contributing researchers.

Interactive evaluation, input and analysis will assist each research associate in establishing baseline data required for the various K7 projects studied.


HOW TO BECOME A PARTICIPATING GNM RESEARCH ASSOCIATE:

1. All participants are required to fill out the "GNM Dental Research Registration Form” (click to register) on line and meet Executive Clinical Research Committee approval before becoming a Research Associate.
2. All members are required to own and operate a K7 Myotronics kineseograph with CMS, EMG and ESG capability.
3. All participating members must show proof of purchase by submitting to the Executive Clinical Research committee the purchase date on which you purchased your K7.
4. All members must own and operate a Myomonitor TENS (J5).
5. All registration forms will be reviewed by the Executive Clinical Research Committe before granting acceptance into the GNM Dental Research Group.
6. Doctors must participate in research projects to be considered a "Clinical Research Associate".
7. Notification of acceptance will be done via email.