Intraosseous Neural Therapy (I.O.N.T)
Ara Elmajian D.D.S.
In the early 1990’s while reading through a dental products journal I discovered a new system of delivering dental anesthesia called the Stabident system. This system provides anesthesia to the immediate area of an individual tooth by delivering the anesthetic intraosseously.
The procedure is simple. After the gingiva in the area of the tooth site is anesthetized a small puncture penetrating through the cortical plate and extending into the cancellous bone proximal to the tooth is made utilizing a special 27 gauge dental drill. The local anesthetic is then delivered via a needle through the puncture site directly to the bone. The advantage of this system is that the tooth and its surrounding tissue become fully anesthetized while the lips and tongue are not affected.
In my mind this new discovery opened up a vast array of possibilities in the field of dental medicine. I took this delivery system one step further and developed the procedure I coined, Intraosseous Neural Therapy (I.O.N.T.) I began experimenting in my practice by combining 1% procaine with various homotoxicological and sanum remedies. This procedure has been used successfully since the early 90’s to diagnose, detoxify and treat the areas affected thereby rejuvenating the autonomic nervous system (A.N.S.) both directly and indirectly. The results have been rewarding.
This article primarily deals with Autonomic Nervous System (A.N.S.) dysfunction due to toxicity, infection and electrical disturbances in the maxilla and the mandible. These structures are extremely vascular and highly innervated by the A.N.S.
The A.N.S. plays a major role in orchestrating the diverse functions of these structures. It also coordinates and regulates the rhythm and activity of the visceral organs. The A.N.S. is controlled by the hypothalamus which is in turn controlled by the limbic system. The hypothalamus itself is involved in the endocrine – immune system. Since most communication between neurons in the A.N.S. circuits occur via synaptic transmission the function of the transmission depends on the production, distribution, identification and elimination of specific neurochemicals.
Most patients with chronic illness or pain require the multidisciplinary approach to treatment. In chronic pain patients the A.N.S. is overloaded. In extreme cases random chaos involving the A.N.S could trigger a series of far-reaching ill effects.
One of the major disciplines dealing with chronic illness and pain is Dental Medicine.
The dental component in chronic pain management can play an important role in removing much of the burden placed on the A.N.S.
The A.N.S. is affected in the following major areas:
- Structural imbalances due to occlusal and cranial disharmony.
- Functional imbalances – muscle / tendon / ligament / joint dysfunctions in the head and neck region.
- Electrical interference fields in the jaws (jaw foci)
- Biochemical imbalances
- Oral electrogalvanism
- Psychological factors
- Other perpetuating factors
The above components have been documented in several textbooks written on chronic pain.
The purpose of this article as mentioned previously is to explain the Intraosseous Neural Therapy (I.O.N.T.) technique and its philosophy. I.O.N.T. is a powerful tool when used in conjunction with other modalities. Utilizing the combination of 1% procaine with homotoxicological and sanum remedies has been taught by the American Academy of Neural Therapy as a protocol in myofascial and neural therapy. As a treatment the combination of local anesthetic and various remedies can also be utilized for trigger point therapy and segmental therapy as well as I.O.N.T.
In general the technique utilizes an amount of 0.5 – 1 cc of the prepared solution, determined by the practitioner, gently injected into the desired site using the stabident method. The results can be dramatic given the situation. It is well documented that a healthy, well functioning A.N.S. is paramount in facilitating the body’s own healing and regeneration abilities. Patients often describe the reaction following I.O.N.T. as a feeling of an immediate increase in energy. I have also utilized I.O.N.T. in conjunction with other neural therapy injections such as tonsillar, submandibular, sphenopalatine and segmental therapy to mention only a few.
Diagnostic Methods
- Applied Kinesiology
- Vega Resonance Test
- E.A.V.
- Dental Radiographs
- Intraosseous Neural Therapy
- Regulation Thermography
- Biologic Terrain Assessment
- Bone Scans (Hospital)
- Cavitat
Treatment Modalities
A. Basic Dental
I.O.N.T. can also be used and is very beneficial in treating specific dental problems such as a hyperemic tooth following extensive restorative procedures or other trauma, such as cementation of a crown for example. In either of these situations I.O.N.T. treatments could prevent the inevitability of a root canal. The technique for this situation would again be implemented using the stabident method. 1 - 2 cc of ozone 20 – 41 ug/ml is first injected into the site and then a solution of approximately 0.5cc of 1% procaine along with 0.5cc traumeel and 0.25cc lymphomyosot would be injected intraosseously (half of the solution being injected on either side of the tooth). Isopathic remedies such pleo not, pleo pef, pleo Art A etc can also be added to the solution depending on the individual’s symptoms. This treatment may need to be performed several times until those symptoms disappear.
B. I.O.N.T. as a Diagnostic Method
- Following radiographic interpretation a solution of 1cc of 1% procaine is injected intraosseously into a suspicious site. In most pathologic cases the patient will experience relief from symptoms for a period of 6-12 hours.
- If utilizing regulation thermography as a diagnostic tool the above procedure could be applied prior to the third reading of the thermogram.
- During a Vega Mini SEG energy screening test or when using the SEG or MRT diagnostic systems the I.O.N.T. challenge as mentioned above could be implemented prior to the second evaluation of those tests. If there is a change in regulation in a certain segment or organ it would indicate a dental focus is present.
I.O.N.T. can be used in conjunction with organ/dental points to determine if there is a dental disturbance field in relation to an organ. I have seen many examples of this in my practice over the years. A patient of mine presented with chronic abdominal burning which had been recurring for years. She had heavily restored dentition in the area of tooth #36 (lower left molar area). In this situation the mesial and distal areas of tooth #36 were treated utilizing I.O.N.T. resulting in 10 hours of pain relief in the abdominal region. Following that the symptoms returned. The diagnostic test was repeated several days later with similar results. Eventually the tooth was extracted and the jawbone cavitated. This procedure provided long-standing relief of the original abdominal burning symptoms. Several years following the extraction of the tooth she reported the recurrence of abdominal pain. The now edentulous area was injected using the previous technique combined with segmental therapy of the abdomen utilizing several different remedies. To this day she remains pain free in the abdominal area.
C. Isopathic Medicine
I.O.N.T. can be utilized effectively in post jawbone cavitational surgery. The patient is seen one month following surgery. A combination of homotoxicological, drainage and isopathic remedies along with .5cc of 1% procaine is injected into the post surgical area. The combination of remedies is formulated by the practitioner, depending on the individual situation. A common formula used in my practice for this particular circumstance would be .5cc procaine, traumeel, lymphomyosote, aesculus, pleo muc and pleo nig. Keep in mind that the combination possibilities of remedies is infinite and depends on the patient and the experience of the practitioner. It is also important to note that it may be necessary to repeat the modality several times to achieve the desired results.
D. Trigeminal Neuralgia
I.O.N.T. has been very helpful in controlling trigeminal neuralgia. The injection formula is a combination of 1% procaine, sanum remedy of choice, traumeel, gelsemium-homaccord, spigelon, rhododendroneel or dulcamara (if patient affected by weather conditions). These combination solutions are injected into suspicious sites of the mandible and maxilla. Neural therapy should also be performed on the sphenopalatine ganglion, the gasserian ganglion, the submandibular ganglion and the stellate ganglion. This should be followed with an intravenous injection of 3-5 cc of 1% procaine combined with other complementary remedies.
I.O.N.T. enables the clinician to facilitate in the reduction of stress or burden on the A.N.S. in a dramatic manner, thereby promoting the healing and regulating of it.
The human jaw is exposed to numerous traumas such as structural problems, toxicity and infections to name a few. A focus in the region could cause chronic autonomic discharge of primary afferent fibers. These nerve fibers produce neuropeptides. Many of these primary afferent fibers targeting the spinal cord have the characteristic of nociceptive fibers. These nociceptive fibers produce neuropeptides such as substance-P and calcitonin gene related polypeptides, which respond to nociceptive stimuli. The nociceptive stimuli are capable of eliciting a neurogenic inflammatory response in the area. Substance-P induces symptoms that resemble vascular pain syndrome such as cluster headaches.
The chronic discharge of norepinephrine from the trigeminal portion of the A.N.S. in the region can increase the level of prostoglandins, which causes irritation to the small caliber primary afferent fibers. Chronic discharge can result in a nociceptive input to the spinal column. There have been studies that show chronic afferent discharge actually exhausting the posterior horn nuclei in the spinal column. The above mechanism, if chronic, is described as a sympathetically dependent hyperalgesia. It has been noted that numerous trigeminal neuralgias have been resolved by surgery and by treating cavitations in the jawbone utilizing the principles of I.O.N.T. discussed in this article.
Trigeminal neuralgia is an example of autonomic and peripheral nervous system chaos. The logical approach to desensitizing both systems is to regulate the environment that is responsible for the trigeminal neuralgia. The problem is often in the cancellous bone of the maxilla or the mandible. The drainage and regeneration of a dental focus will facilitate in creating a trophic environment in the area.
As has been shown throughout this information there are numerous indications for the implementation of I.O.N.T.
Knowledge of the interrelation between dental disturbances and their effects on specific organs further enhances a clinician’s ability to control a chronic pain or illness situation. Utilizing I.O.N.T. in this situation will contribute greatly to the relief of stress on the A.N.S.
Reference:
- Willard, Frank Foundations for Osteopathic Medicine, Autonomic Nervous System Williams and Wilkins 1996
- Klinghardt, Dietrich M.D. PhD. The Neurology of the Autonomic Nervous System Neural Therapy Course B 1993
- Voll,R. M.D. Interrelations of Odontons and Tonsils to Organs, Fields of Disturbance, and Tissue Systems MLV 1978
- Bell, W. D.D.S. Orofacial Pains Fourth Edition Year Book Medical Publishers Inc. 1989
- Pischinger, A. M.D. Matrix and Matrix Regulation Haug 1990
- Wilson-Pauwels Akesson Stewart Cranial Nerves BC Decker Inc. 1988
- Jubach, T. D.M.D. Stabident – Local Anesthesia System 1992
- Gonzales, R., Sherbourne CD, Goldyn ME, Levine JD, Noradrenaline – Induced Prostoglandin Production by Sympathetic Postganglionic Neurons is Mediated by 2 – adrenergic receptors J.Neurochem. 1991 57: 1145-1150
- Suzuki, N, Harebo J-E. Anatomical Basis for a Sympathetic and Sensory Innervation of the Intracranial Segment of the Internal Carotid in Man. Possible Implications for Vascular Headache. J. Neurol Sci. 1991: 104:19-31