What is ICCMO?

The International College of Cranio-Mandibular Orthopedics

Dr. Ira Shapira ICCMO Dentist chicago

The International College of Cranio-Mandibular Orthopedics (ICCMO) is a society of health care professionals who have a common interest in the anatomy and physiology of occlusion, jaw function and orthopedics dysfunction with resultant symptoms in the head and neck.

The primary objectives of the College are:
1. To understand the physiology of jaw function
2. To alleviate the widespread human suffering of those persons afflicted with head and neck pain and dysfunction

Dr. Shapira and the ICCMO

Dr. Shapira is a long time member of the ICCMO. He was first sponsored by Dr Barney Jankelson, the founder of Physiologic Dentistry. As young upstart in a course at Myotronics, he impressed Dr. Jankelson by asking the right questions.  Dr. J took him aside and the two spent two days together where Dr Jankelson enmeshed him in Physiologic Dentistry and the ICCMO.  He became the ICCOM’s  Illinois and International Regent.

Currently the Secretary and Chairman Elect, he has been the ICCMO representative to the TMD Alliance for many years. Dr Shapira is Mastership eligible and created a Masters thesis that, unfortunately, had to be put on hold due to his wife’s illness. Despite this, he attends almost every American Section ICCMO meeting and has also attended several international meetings.

He’s also lectured at numerous meetings, including providing a comprehensive introduction into the  subject of sleep apnea in Boca Raton in the 1990s – long before it became common knowledge of most physicians or dentists. He most recently gave a lecture at the Argentina ICCMO meeting in March 2014 on the Developmental aspects of TMJ disorders and Sleep Apnea, covering the role of Physiologic Dentistry in diagnosing and treating these combined  disorders.

He is currently involved in rewriting the Mastership exam and reviewing applications of Masters and Fellows to the Academy.

"Excellent. My first experience was with Dr. Shapira 35 years ago. I have referred to this as my "miracle" Now 35 years later, I am more than positive, that I again, have made the right choice in returning for his services."

Joyce J.

"I cannot imagine my dental work ever being done by any other dentist than Dr. Shapira!! I have been seeing higm for several years to help correct my sleep apnea. I cannot tolerate CPap so Dr. Shapira created an oral device that has literally been saving my life!!! I am a high risk patient and absolutely swear that I might not even be here if it weren’t for this incredible Doctor! He knows more about medicine from all different perspectives than most of my doctors and has exceptional skill in the practice of dentistry!! I truly believe this man is also a philosopher, a practitioner in natural remedies and has become a very special person in my life. Don’t even bother seeing any other dentist cause after you have seen Dr. Shapira you will be horribly disappointed!!"

Charlene Brown (review from Google)

"I have been a patient for over 15 yrs. When I came to Dr. Shapira I was in very bad TMJ pain. He and his staff worked with me for hours and when I left that day the pain was gone. I continued treatment until my bite was fully corrected and not only that but thanks to Dr Shapira’s talent in cosmetic dentistry, my teeth look more beautiful then they ever have. Dr Shapira and the staff continue to gain education on the most innovative ways to help people look and feel good. The staff there are very kind and I always so cared for when I go for my appointments."

Michelle H.

"Terrific place for Dental and TMJ healing…I’ve been a patient for 13 years. Not only did they fix my cavities very well, but the incredible relief from my jaw problems was unexpected. My jaw would sometimes lock up on one side, and Dr. Ira discovered that my bite was misaligned. I had the painless TENS treatment, wore a plastic appliance made for my mouth (like a retainer), and then my jaw was fixed, my bite was fixed, and my jaw pain was gone!!
Better still, this treatment apparently also aligned my sinuses, because my life-long sinus congestion disappeared. AND, I no longer require a small shim my right shoe for which I had long ago been diagnosed as having needed “because” one leg was longer than the other — which is no longer the case! Alignment works! This is a great place to get healed for life!!"

Marty S.

See more TMJ and Neuromuscular Dentistry patient testimonials online in Chicago:

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