Research & Publications

This page contains:

• Research Abstracts
• About Dr. Cooper's Research
• Article Archive
• Empirical Representation of Dr. Cooper's Research

Research Abstracts

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About Dr. Cooper's Research

While the US government has funded research in the past few years on subjects including the psychological aspects of TMD and Orofacial Pain, TMD occurrence in populations, surgical and pharmacological (medication) management, little research has been supported related to the physical/structural causes of TMD and effective management strategies for successful treatment.

In 1996 Dr. Cooper presented a research paper at a conference on the management of temporomandibular disorders convened by The National Institutes of Health (NIH) & National Institute of Dental Research (NIDR). The full text of the research appears in the Article Archive as published in Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology and Endodontics, 1997, volume 83, pages 91-100.

The research clearly establishes the physical/structural basis of TMD. While not totally resolving the current physical vs. psychological cause of TMD controversy, this research serves as an important step by documenting the physical components of TMD in this very large patient group. The research describes the frequency occurrence of the most common symptoms and the clinical physical examination findings in a population of 3681 TMD patients of whom 1182 received therapy with Dr. Cooper. The data on frequency of symptom occurrence and clinical examination findings as well as symptom improvement after therapy are presented in the appropriate text sections of this website so that visitors can associate their condition with that of a very large population of patients with TMJ/TMD.

The data presented here shows the effect of therapy using the bioelectronic protocol described in this website on lowering resting electrical activity in muscles responsible for jaw function. The capacity to establish a dental occlusion synchronized (coordinated) with balanced effective muscle function through treatment was evaluated in this research project. The quality of mandibular movement and the establishment of a precise durable neuromuscular occlusion position (the bite) were also measured.

The research data demonstrates the following:

• Patients with TMD typically have elevated muscle-resting activity
• Muscle hyperactivity is associated with mandibular posturing in an accommodative rest position.
• TENS therapy effectively relaxes muscles
• Relaxation of muscles is associated with changes in mandibular (jaw) rest position
• Muscle function in a neuromuscular occlusion position is strong and balanced
• A neuromuscular occlusion is associated with a significant reduction in patients' symptoms.

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Article Archive

Selected articles by Barry C. Cooper, DDS

• TMD DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT:The Role Of Bioelectronic Instruments In The Management Of TMD, New York State Dental Journal, November 1995 page 48-53
• The Role of Bioelectronic Instrumentation in the Documentation and Management of Temporomandibular Disorders, Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology and Endodontics 1997;83: page 91-100

Reprinted with permission of copyright holder and may not be reproduced without permission.

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Empirical Representation of Dr. Cooper's Research

Click "View" to see the data.

• Patient Breakdown by Age | View
• Overall Patient Population for each Phase of Study | View
• Table of Average Values for Electromyographic Measurement of Resting Activity TENS induced Muscle Relaxation Before and During Treatment (in Microvolts) | View
• Table of Average Values for Electromyographic Measurement of Muscle Activity During Maximum Clench in Natural and Therapeutic Occlusions (in Microvolts) | View
• Electronic Mandibular Tracking of Free Way Space Between Rest Position and Occlusion (in mm) (Recorded at Mandibular Incisors) | View
• Electronic Mandibular Tracking of Free Way Space Between - Graph | View
• Comparison of Natural Occlusal Position with Neuromuscular Position (in % of subjects analyzed) | View
• Comparison of Natural Occlusal Position with Neuromuscular Position (in % of subjects analyzed) - Graph | View