CST: A Powerful Partner in Orthodontia
A Holistic Approach to Oral Health
CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands-on healing approach that focuses on the craniosacral system - the membranes and fluid that surround, protect, and nourish the brain and spinal cord.
When we experience stress and tension, our bodies adjust, compensate, and strain. Over time, body tissues tighten and can produce restrictions in the CranioSacral system. This can create barriers to the healthy functioning of the central nervous system as well as all of the other systems that interact with it.
CranioSacral Therapy Can Help:
Support Patient Care
CST is known to benefit your patients in a variety of ways. It prepares patients for braces, Invisalign, oral surgery, and tooth extraction. CST is known to reduce physical tension in mouth, jaw, face, neck, throat, head, nervous system, and CranioSacral system. Patients report reduced headaches, TMJ symptoms, and tooth pain from adjustments or tray changes. CST improves balance and stability via the jaw and pelvis and rebalances the cranial bones and CranioSacral system with bite changes and hard palate shifts throughout treatment.
Increase Accessibility
Neurodivergent patients and patients with oral trauma often face barriers to orthodontic health care including stressful sensory experiences, social anxiety, difficulty with decision-making, overwhelm, and burnout. This can lead to avoiding orthodontic care, postponing or cancelling appointments, and undo stress. CST directly addresses these challenges by easing distressing symptoms and aiding in the processing of somatic and/or oral-related trauma, ultimately making the care you offer safer and more accessible.
Empower Your Team
Your practice thrives when your team is equipped to care for the unique needs of your patients. We are proud to offer professional consulting services and education to help you increase competency in providing Neurodivergent, Queer, and Trans Affirming care. Our CST demos cover three techniques to support patients receiving care: palpating the CranioSacral rhythm, cranial pumping, and stillpoint. Many practices also choose to offer CST services to their staff to support their health and functioning.
How it Works
CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, noninvasive form of bodywork designed to increase parasympathetic function of the central nervous system, also known as rest and digest. The light touch combined with the practitioner's neutral intention and nonjudgmental presence creates a deep sense of safety, allowing the body to release restrictions in the muscles and connective tissue creating an optimally functioning nervous system.
