The History of the International College of Craniomandibular Orthopedics

The History of the International College

of Cranio-Mandibular Orthopedics (ICCMO)

2nd Edition

R. Rex Eatmon, DDS, MICCMO.

This year, ICCMO celebrates the thirty-second anniversary of it’s founding. As many of the founding members are no longer available to carry on the oral traditions of the beginning and the history of our organization, one of the stated objectives when I assumed the position of International President in 2003 was to get our history into written form and published so that the information would not be lost to the future. With the help of many, and especially Mr. Bill Trimingham, the first history fulfilled that objective. That first history and time have stimulated memories of people not previously heard from. For this ICCMO extends its "thank you" to those of you and to Fray Adib and Dr. Barry Cooper. It is the hope that this document can become a living record of our organization. It should be revisited and updated on a regular basis so that an accurate record can be maintained and passed on to our future members.

The founder of Neuromuscular Dentistry was Dr. Bernard Jankelson, a prosthodontist who practiced from 1924 -1976. After relocating his practice from central Washington to Seattle in about 1930 he realized the concepts of dental mechanics learned in dental school did not adequately address the needs of the patients he was treating. He began to search for a better way. He believed that along with the dentition the muscles, nerves, and temporomandibular joints should also be considered in the diagnosis and management of dental disease. Among his first efforts was the development in 1964 of the “little black box”. He hired an engineer to help design a TENS unit for dental applications. This was his application of TENS therapy to relax tense musculature and to help locate the neutral physiological posture for the mandible as it is suspended below the cranial base. Using his "new technology", he found he could reproduce a more stable occlusion for his prosthetic patients. Serendipitously, he found by stimulating the musculature while taking his final impressions much better border molding was obtained and therefore a more stable and retentive denture base.

"Barney" Jankelson was a man of vision, but he had very little experience in the field of electronics. Dr. Jankelson hired an engineer from Boeing, Carol Swain, in 1970. Mr. Swain was instrumental in the development of the first kinesiograph, K1, as well as the succeeding models, K2, K3, and K4. He also led the development of the J1 and J2 TENSing units. Later John Radke continued the engineering work in developing the K5. Currently Kevin Houck is the guiding engineer of multiple advances in instrumentation which includes the K7.

Dr. Jankelson lectured around the world. During these trips abroad, he began to spread his innovative neuromuscular dental concepts into multiple countries, including Japan and Italy. So, it was a natural progression that in 1977, an international group of doctors who used the kinesiograph decided to get together in Honolulu, Hawaii. The subject of this meeting was “TMJ Pain Dysfunction Syndrome Symposium”. Dr. John Char of Honolulu was the host. It was at this meeting the decision was made to form an organization which would serve as an international resource of information on the practice of neuromuscular dentistry.

In August, 1979, a group of doctors from several countries were invited back to Hawaii with the stated purpose of forming the International College of Mandibular Kinesiometrics. At this very successful meeting, the more appropriate name of the International College of CranioMandibular Orthopedics was adopted.

The first officers of ICCMO were elected at this Hawaii meeting which became known as the first International Congress. They were:

Dr. W. Steven Bledsoe - International President

Dr. Martin Frankel - North American President

Dr. Atsushi Yamashita - Far Eastern President

Dr. Franco Prayer-Galleti - European President

Dr. Alister MacKenzie - Membership Chairman

Dr. John Richards - Constitution and By-laws Chairman.

In 1980, ICCMO was incorporated in the city of Memphis, Tennessee, the hometown of the International President, Dr. Steven Bledsoe.

The first formal international meeting, called the Second International Congress was held in 1980 in Florence, Italy. It was hosted by Dr. Franco Prayer-Galleti. After its initial flourish, the organization seemed to loose its momentum. In 1985, Dr.’s MacKenzie, Richards, and Dr. James Pocklington met in Michigan to explore methods for revitalizing ICCMO. Dr. Barney Jankelson agreed, at the age of 82 years, to assume the post of International President. From the outset, Dr. Jankelson was very careful to maintain the separation and independence of ICCMO from his manufacturing company, Myotronics, which was begun in 1967.

Under Dr. Jankelson’s leadership, ICCMO became a true international organization. His friends and colleagues, Dr. Franco Prayer-Galleti, Dr. Stefano Prayer-Galleti, Dr. Maurizio Bergamini, and Dr. Atsushi Ymashita were all instrumental in starting and nourishing ICCMO sections in their individual countrys. Here in the United States, Dr. John Richards, Dr. Jim Garry, Dr. Ed Duncan and Dr. Barry Cooper worked to assure that ICCMO became the growing and vital organization that it is today. These dedicated colleagues worked very hard for the success of ICCMO.

That same year (1985) the Fourth International Congress was held in Kyoto, Japan. A strong program was organized by the host Japanese section and the meeting was a great success. The future of ICCMO seemed assured.

During the year, each International section holds annual meetings for the members of their section and the doctors practicing in their particular area or region. All meetings are always open to all international members and those with a curiosity and interest. Every two years a particular section hosts an International Congress in their country for the ICCMO international membership. Sections share this opportunity on a rotational basis. In the USA, American section meetings were initially scheduled to coincide with the meetings of the American Dental Association. That practice has since been abandoned.

At the very well attended meeting in Miami Beach, Florida, in 1986, Dr. Bernard Jankelson was elevated to become the first Chancellor of ICCMO. This honor was bestowed on him by his friend and colleague, Dr. Milt Fielding of New York. By 1994, ICCMO’s international membership had grown considerably. Along with that came more work to do and not enough time to do it. And... considering the various time zones, working at the international level becomes much more complicated for a part-time Executive Director. So, in 1994, the position of Executive Director of ICCMO became a full time, salaried position.

Dr. Bernard Jankelson passed away in 1987. That year, the American Section meeting, already scheduled in Las Vegas, became the First Annual Bernard Jankelson Memorial Lecture Forum.... an American Section tradition that continues today. This same year, Dr. Bernard Jankelson was elected as the first Chancellor Emeritus of ICCMO. This honor was bestowed to forever honor the memory of the Father of Neuromuscular Dentistry.

Following Dr. Jankelson’s death, Dr. John Richards (Washington State) succeeded him as International President. He served in that post from 1987 to 1988. He was followed by Dr. James Garry (California) from 1988 to 1993; Dr. Barry Cooper (New York) from 1993 to 1999; Dr. Allen Moses (Illinois) from 1999 to 2001; Dr. David Hickman (West Virginia) from 2001 to 2003; Dr. Rex Eatmon (Texas) from 2003 to 2005, Dr. Martyn Thomas (Edmonton, Canada) from 2005 to 2007, Dr. Maurizio Bergamini (Florence, Italy) from 2007 to 2009, Dr. Atsushi Yamashita (Okayama, Japan) from 2009 to 2011 and Dr. Norman Thomas (Nevada) 2011 to 2013. In 2007, with a need to expand and acknowledge its international make-up, the office of president began to include those outside of North America. Since 2007, the American Section Presidents were Dr. Cris Simmons (Washington) from 2007 to 2009, Dr. Rosemary Rojas (California) from 2009-2011, and Dr. Norman Thomas (Nevada) from 2011-2013.

The first Executive Secretary was Ms. Geri Ripley, 1985-1986. Since then the office of Executive Director has been served by Ms. Suzanne Woodruff, 1986-1996 and Ms. Hallie Truswell, 1996-2012. Ms. Tracy Abel assumed the position of Executive Director of ICCMO in January, 2012.

Desiring to put some of the best academic papers from these meetings into print, ICCMO arranged with S. Karger of Switzerland to publish the papers from the 1989 International Congress in Florence, Italy in Karger’s Frontiers of Oral Physiology, Volume 7. After that, ICCMO then determined to publish its first Anthology of CranioMandibular Practice, in 1991. The purpose was to place papers into the scientific literature that illuminate and discuss the concepts of neuromuscular occlusion and the application of these principles to the clinical practice of dentistry. Dr. Richard Coy served as editor of Volume 1, 2, 3, and 4. Since that time, Dr. David Hickman edited Volume 5 (2001), Dr. Mike Mazzocco edited Volume 6 (2003), and Dr. Sid Holleman edited Volume 7 (2005), Volume 8 (2007), and Volume 9 (2010). Drs. Barry Cooper and Rex Eatmon serve as co-editors of Volume 10.

Another important service ICCMO provides for its members is credentialing in recognition of a member's additional study in the field of neuromuscular dentistry. To accomplish this, ICCMO established the requirements for Fellowship which is bestowed on those members who demonstrate and document knowledge and understanding in the application of neuromuscular principles to the clinical practice of dentistry. The first ICCMO Fellowships were awarded at the Miami Beach meeting in 1986.

In 1989, a committee of six prestigious ICCMO members was formed. This committee was charged with developing a Mastership program for those Fellows who exhibited advanced knowledge in the application of neuromuscular principles to dental practice. The committee members were Drs. Norman Thomas, Richard Coy, John Flocken, James Garry, David Hickman and Barry Cooper. The Mastership program requires applicants to conduct original research and present a thesis for review and approval by the committee. Applicants must also pass a difficult written test over the field of neuromuscular dentistry and temporomandibular disorders. Finally an oral defense and explanation of their research project and thesis must be successfully completed. The first ICCMO Mastership candidates received that honor in 1993 at the International Congress in Banff, Alberta Canada.

In 1997, Dr. Norman Thomas of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, was appointed Chancellor of our College. This honor was bestowed on Dr. Thomas in recognition of his outstanding contributions as a teacher, a researcher, an author, and mentor.

In 2004 the requirements for Fellowship were expanded to include a written examination. By passing this written examination a Fellowship candidate further demonstrates his or her proficiency and an understanding of the principles of neuromuscular dentistry and how they are applied to the clinical practice of dentistry

Over the years, ICCMO has taken a leadership role in advocating for the right of the individual clinician to practice freely without extreme government intervention. ICCMO is one of the founding members of the American Alliance of TMD Organizations, which is committed to protecting freedom of practice of its members. During the Presidency of Dr. Jim Garry, ICCMO fought to maintain the ADA Seal of Approval for the electronic evaluation devices that our members use. During the Presidency of Dr. Barry Cooper, ICCMO successfully led the struggle against intervention from the FDA and NIH, which sought to denigrate the treatments you provide and limit your freedom of practice. ICCMO has also opposed those in our profession who attempted to obtain ADA recognition of a speciality in the fields of Orofacial and Craniofacial Pain which include TMD.

This year, ICCMO celebrates its 32nd anniversary serving the dental community as an international resource of information and education in the field of neuromuscular dentistry. Its focus has been, is, and should be forever on the well being and specifically on the occlusion of our patients and the malocclusions that exist which contribute to mankinds pain and dysfunction. As we grow in numbers every year, the energy and enthusiasm within the organization is vibrant. The principles of neuromuscular dentistry developed so many years ago by our founder, Dr. Bernard Jankelson, are accepted and practiced by many dentists around the world. The future for ICCMO and neuromuscular dentistry will always be in the hands of those of you who recognize the merits and validity of the neuromuscular principles of dental function.