Cranial osteopathy and dentistry: why understanding skull movement could be key to oral health

In this article, Chris Harris makes the case that understanding cranial osteopathy isn’t just relevant to dentistry – it is essential.

Is an understanding of cranial osteopathy relevant for dentistry? Yes, it is. In fact, I would argue that it is not only relevant but essential. The following is a condensed whistlestop tour of some important points. It will likely stimulate more questions than provide answers, but these questions will be welcome. 

Cranial osteopathy: a brief explanation

The fontanelles in an infant skull close over as the bones grow together, the largest at the vertex at about 18 months. The skull then fuses into a solid one-piece structure: this is the understanding of most medics. The bones are initially separate at birth to allow a needed shape adaptation for a vaginal birth. This is not correct: they do not fully fuse. They approximate, interdigitate and form joints – joints designed for movement. 

The anatomy of the sutures suggesting this was spotted by Dr Sutherland in 1899. He was student of the original osteopath Dr Still. Anyone with a little patience can feel the movement with their hands. 

The movement is often described as fluid pump for the cerebrospinal fluid. With patients I talk about a slow-motion heartbeat of the nervous system: roughly eight cycles a minute. The whole body minutely changes shape, a bit like a big domed jellyfish as it moves along. We call it flexion and extension.