Why Not Every Chiropractor Coordinates Well With GNM Dental Treatment

Originally published May 2017 · Migrated and updated May 2026

By Clayton A. Chan, D.D.S. — Founder/Director of Occlusion Connections™

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The Body Is a Complete Unit — Why Occlusion Cannot Be Treated in Isolation

The body is a complete unit, and every disc, cervical joint, as well as occlusion joint need to be well supported in order for the musculature and surrounding fascia from head to toe — including occiput to sacrum, iliac, down to toes — to be supported with optimized occlusion. It goes hand in hand. A good bite that supports proper physiologic posture of the mandible to the cranium is critical in order to help the realignment of the other remaining body parts in the postural chain.

When lower back muscles, sacrum and iliac are out of alignment they can cause ascending disruption to the masticatory structures. When abnormal joints and teeth are out of alignment, the ascending as well as descending signalling patterns can be coordinated with supportive SOT, skilled chiropractic and osteopathic treatment.

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What I Look For in a Chiropractor or Body Aligner

I used to work with a great AO *(Atlas Orthogonal practitioner)* who was also SOT trained — now she has moved. Now I work with a NUCCA practitioner who checks body balance. So whatever person has a respect for body alignment in a detailed manner — regardless of the discipline — without jerking, twisting in a manner to make things worse — and ideally if they measure and document what they are doing with radiographic imaging so one can see the changes that take place — one will see that small changes with light, gentle force is all that is necessary to help.

Occlusion is a part of that alignment scheme and support system of the complete postural system. And I don’t mean someone has to be biting or clenching down all the time — but the occlusion must be proprioceptively aligned to give the proper signalling to maintain proper mandibular, head and lower back posture to support the neck, and vice versa.

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The Disciplines That Tend to Coordinate Well With GNM

From decades of clinical experience working with multidisciplinary practitioners, certain alignment disciplines tend to coordinate well with GNM occlusal treatment — and others tend to create more problems than they solve. The distinction is not about credentials. It is about how the practitioner approaches the body.

• SOT *(Sacro-Occipital Technique)* — practitioners trained in SOT understand the cranial-sacral-occlusal relationship and tend to work with very light, gentle, measured force. SOT recognizes occlusion as part of the alignment system. Strong coordination potential
• AO *(Atlas Orthogonal)* — practitioners who specialize in precise upper cervical alignment work with measured radiographic documentation and very specific corrections. The atlas-mandibular relationship is part of their clinical framework. Strong coordination potential
• NUCCA *(National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association)* — similar to AO in its focus on precise upper cervical correction, with measured radiographic verification of changes. Strong coordination potential
• Osteopathic physicians trained in cranial work — particularly those trained in cranial osteopathy and primary respiratory mechanism. These practitioners understand cranial bone movement and the relationship to mandibular position. Variable coordination — depends on individual training depth
• Skilled cranial therapists and massage therapists — when working at light, soft-tissue-mobilization levels rather than aggressive manipulation. Useful adjunct for soft tissue work

The practitioners I would generally avoid coordinating with are those who perform aggressive cervical manipulation without radiographic verification — high-velocity, jerking, twisting adjustments that can disturb a delicately established mandibular position. For the GNM patient in active orthotic treatment, this can undo weeks of careful occlusal stabilization in a single appointment.

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What “Light Gentle Force” Actually Means Clinically

The phrase “light gentle force” is more than a style preference. It reflects a fundamental clinical principle:

• Small changes accumulate. The body’s postural alignment adjusts in small increments. Aggressive corrections override the body’s adaptive response and create their own compensations
• Proprioceptive integration takes time. When the alignment changes, the proprioceptive feedback loops *(including those from the mandibular and occlusal systems)* need time to recalibrate. Light force allows this; aggressive force overwhelms it
• Measurement validates the work. Radiographic documentation before and after each adjustment session means both clinician and patient can see what changed — and whether the change was constructive
• The patient’s own healing response is preserved. Light force supports the body’s natural alignment-restoration tendency. Aggressive force replaces it
• The occlusal-orthotic system is protected. For the GNM patient wearing a precisely fabricated mandibular orthotic, light force does not disturb the mandibular position. Aggressive cervical manipulation can — and often does

The dental and chiropractic disciplines that respect this principle are the ones whose coordinated treatment actually serves the patient.

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Coordinating Chiropractic and GNM Treatment — A Clinical Framework

The right interprofessional model with the chiropractor or body aligner is coordinated, sequenced, and properly understood by both clinicians:

• The GNM dentist establishes the structural-occlusal foundation first — the optimized myocentric mandibular position, the supporting GNM orthotic at the physiologic vertical, and the verification that the occlusal system is stable before significant cervical or postural work begins
• The chiropractic / body alignment practitioner supports the postural integration — working at the appropriate disciplines *(SOT, AO, NUCCA, cranial osteopathic)*, with measured radiographic documentation, and with light gentle force that respects the dental-mandibular position
• Both clinicians respect the boundaries of their disciplines — the body aligner does not perform aggressive manipulation that could disturb the established mandibular position; the dentist does not attempt to manage upper cervical or sacroiliac alignment from the dental chair
• The patient should wear the GNM orthotic during chiropractic visits when possible — this ensures the mandibular position is stabilized during the alignment work, so the cervical and postural correction settles around a properly supported jaw
• Communication is essential — the chiropractor should know the patient is in GNM orthotic treatment; the dentist should know what cervical, postural, and cranial work the chiropractor has performed; both should track patient response to coordinated treatment together
• Document and measure on both sides — radiographic verification of chiropractic changes, K7 verification of occlusal changes. Subjective patient feedback alone is insufficient for complex multidisciplinary cases

When this coordination is done well — when both clinicians work within their disciplines, respect each other’s territories, and document their work objectively — the patient receives integrated care that neither discipline can deliver alone.

When it is not — when an aggressive chiropractic adjustment disturbs the carefully established mandibular position, or when the dentist ignores the postural compensations that are sustaining cervical pain — the patient is caught between two well-intentioned but uncoordinated treatments. The patient pays the price for that uncoordinated work.

The chiropractor-dental coordination question is one piece of a broader interprofessional clinical framework. For the complete OC framework — including coordination with physical therapy, atlas adjustment practitioners, and osteopathic and cranial therapy — see the OC interprofessional coordination hub: Interprofessional Coordination for the TMD Patient — Why Complex TMD Requires Coordinated Care →.

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Continue Learning

🔹 Comprehensive Scientific Authority

• The Cervical Dysfunction Patient — Why the Bite Cannot Be Solved Without Addressing the Neck →
• Why Posterior Occlusal Support Matters — The Neurophysiologic Explanation →

🔹 The Cervical-Mandibular Connection

• Effect of Postural and Cervical Muscles on the Occlusion →
• Mandibular GNM Orthotic Effects on the Cervical Alignment →
• Cranial Cervical Alignment: Treating Distortions with GNM Orthotic →
• Cervical Postural Relapse Effects — A Reversal of the Neuromuscular Trajectory →

🔹 Interprofessional Coordination

• Interprofessional Coordination for the TMD Patient — Why Complex TMD Requires Coordinated Care →
• Physical Therapy (PT) versus GNM — Coordinating Interprofessional Care →
• Postural Alignment: Chan’s Dental Model →

🔹 GNM Principles

• Defining Gneuromuscular Dentistry →
• GNM Optimized Bite Protocol →
• Treatment: Lower Anatomical GNM Orthosis →
• Why GNM Dentists Use Lower Orthotics →

🔹 Diagnosis & Measurement

• Headaches and Relief Following Gold Standard for Assessment →
• Relaxing the Muscles With J5 Dental TENS →

🔹 Ready to Train

• OC GNM Masterclass Training — Course Schedule and Registration →

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Written by Clayton A. Chan, D.D.S. — Founder and Director, Occlusion Connections | Las Vegas, Nevada