Gnathology

From the Greek:

gnaqos  (Gnathos) = jaw

logos (logos) = a study of

(pronounced nath-OL-a-gee) 

Gnathology is defined as follows:

"The study of the relationship of the mandibular border movements and occlusal morphology, and how this relationship affects the anatomy, histology, physiology, pathology, and therapeutics of the oral organ, as well as how this relationship affects the rest of the body, including, but not limited to, the TMJ."  (Jack Hockel)

That's right.  My dad defined gnathology.  At least he re-defined it in 2007.  He has studied it for over forty years and is a world-recognized expert on the subject.  There's a lot of confusion on the matter, and he has helped clarify what many have obfuscated.

Basically, gnathology  means getting the bite right.

Many years ago...  Jack Hockel learned gnathology from Dr. Charlie Stuart (pictured above).  Dr. Stuart was one of the brilliant pioneers of gnathology.

And many years ago...  Dr. Brian Hockel learned gnathology primarily from Dr. Jack and also from Dr. Stuart (pictured above).

Even recently, Drs. Jack and Brian used the "Stuart Mandibular Movement Recorder," a gold-standard tool for gnathologists to this day.

How your jaw works and how your teeth fit together - believe it or not, there's a connection there that matters!  If you just make the teeth fit, without consideration of how the jaw functions, you might be causing lifelong and far-reaching problems.

When we restore, fill, replace, or move even a single tooth, we are constantly considering how the change will affect the jaw, and how the jaw and its movements enter in to the equation.

[Home]  [Doctors]  [Team]  [Hours]  [Mission]

Brian J. Hockel, D.D.S.

2651 Oak Grove Road, Walnut Creek, CA 94598

voice 925/934-3434    fax 925/934-4531     email: dds@hockel.com