Holistic approach in dental practice: posturology and muscle chains

The human body has a coherent reaction both to the stages of gravity and dynamism. This integration of muscles, fascial, periosteum, and joints form the motor and stabilized functional chains. The myofascial structures contribute to all bodily functions – emotional states manifest in muscular tension, muscular activity is necessary for all physical work, and even circulation or respiration, while digestion depends on an in fact locomotor system.
All bodily functions depend on well-functioning myofascial structures while the nervous system plays a coordinating and controlling role.
Aim: To present the integrated clinical posturology as a multidisciplinary and complementary method using a variety of objectives and instrumental approaches allowing a unified angle towards the point of interest: the human body as a whole. We call a “posture” the whole strategy used by the neuromuscular and skeletal systems on keeping the body in balance and reacting to gravity in the most efficient way.
Materials and methods: A short overview of the clinical posturology methods in order to overcome the current tendency of “superspecialization” in conventional medicine that makes medical experts look at the body parts separately; Introduce a posturological empirical study showcasing the importance of considering the human body as a unified system.
Results and discussion: Offering a new holistic approach to dental medical experts as working in the part of the body that is very close and influential to the postural system. Occlusion, TMJ, and swallow which really change from dentistry treatment are in the highest relation of the posture.
Conclusion: Utilizing different ways of treating the body and understanding health as a whole mechanism of adaptation and compensation. Good health is the ability for an easy adaptation to the quick changes of the environment.

Dr Marieta Mandova

Dr. Marieta Konstantinova graduated her dental education in 1984 at the Faculty of Dental Medicine-Sofia. Afterwards she completed her specialization in polyvalent dentistry in 1990.
Throughout her practice Dr.Konstantinova has been attending numerous courses and trainings in the field of conservative treatment of orthopedic restoration of the masticatory apparatus by the therapy means of red, infrared and diode laser.
She is active participant and trainer in many seminars and scientific conferences in Bulgaria and abroad. Nominated for Dentist of the year in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010.
In 2018 Dr. Konstantinova completed a joint specialization by the University of Rome “Educam” and University Jean Monnet Bruxelles and become a certified expert and trainer in Clinical Posturology.