What is Intraoral Craniosacral Therapy & Facial Craniosacral Therapy

Intraoral Craniosacral Therapy involves gentle, specialized techniques applied inside the mouth to assist with easing tension in the jaw, the palate, the floor of the mouth, sinus cavities, articulations between facial and cranial bones,  and other structures in and around the mouth, face and throat.

​Through easing fascial and muscular tensions it can be an effective way to address pain in the TMJ, injuries to the mouth, headaches and stress. External Craniosacral Therapy to the Facial Bones and Cranium may be enough to ease these areas but at times additional assistance is needed.

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Intraoral Craniosacral Therapy provides an additional avenue of access to the Sphenoid Bone, the keystone bone of the body. Cranial nerves that pass alongside the sphenoid and supporting structures, can become compressed through injury and adhesions. This can lead to facial pain, eyesight issues, plugged ear canals and pressure near nasal cavities.

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While the sphenoid can be decompressed well with working externally, at times the deeper aspects or tissues more deeply attached can find greater ease through intraoral craniosacral therapy. The vomer and palatine bones work in close relation to the Sphenoid and can experience some ease.

​As a keystone bone the sphenoid dances through restrictions impacting other areas of the body and it is not unusual for clients to experience fascial ease in back, hips, abdominal organs, or knees and feet.

A lot of emotional and mental stress and tension can be held in the jaw, often without realizing that we are doing it. In situations where we may not be able to give voice to our stress, give voice to our opinion or desires, where we grin and bear it, where we stay silent rather than expressing ourselves, the muscles and the fascia of the jaw and mouth can often hold stress as we “hold it in”. Intraoral Craniosacral Therapy offers a way to access and release restriction and tension in the area. As tension eases jaw mobility can improve, nerve and muscle pain in the face and mouth can release, and the emotions that may have caused the tension that is being held are more likely to process and be released.

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A blow or injury to the face, dental surgery, whiplash, teeth grinding, opening too wide to take a bite of something... can result in tension, pressure on nerves, chronic pain and restricted movement. Intraoral Craniosacral Therapy can help to release restrictions, restore mobility and ease pain.
"By encouraging the body to release its accumulated stress and strain, we can help restore its natural ability to heal." (Dr. John Upledger).

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Intraoral Craniosacral Therapy and Craniosacral Therapy to the Facial Bones can help to:

• Release tension in the TMJ and other areas related to mobility of the jaw
  
• Assist with releasing tension in the muscles of the throat, neck, tongue, cheeks, upper back and neck/shoulder areas
  
• Helpful with headaches, tinnitus, vertigo and dizziness
  
• Ease facial pain due to tension in facial muscles and fascia compressing nerves, improve facial dissymmetry and circulation to the facial skin
  
• Open airways in the throat and nasal septum 

Intraoral Craniosacral Therapy as a Part Of Your Session

Intraoral Craniosacral Therapy is only applied as it is needed and often, the work of Craniosacral Therapy through the rest of the neck, shoulders and cranium is enough to achieve the release of tensions. The cranium will always be treated first, and that may or may not include additional attention to facial bones.

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Because the areas in the mouth tend to release quickly, intraoral work may be applied towards the end of a session. Gentle and slow in application, I find I'm not in the mouth for very long as areas respond rapidly.

Work in the mouth can be sensitive and I encourage you to read "Intraoral Craniosacral Therapy & Trauma Informed Care"