From the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (Nov/Dec 2006)...

A recent study showed that the alignment of the spinal column may be strongly influenced by poor alignment of the temporomandibular joint. These investigators reported that in an experimental group of animals with an induced misalignment of the jaw, thoracolumbar scoliosis (commonly referred to as crooked spine) occurred within 1 week. The abnormal curvature was then completely resolved in 83% of the cases in just 1 week after correction of the jaw misalignment. They suggested that an anatomical and nervous system relationship between the jaw apparatus and the spinal column could explain their observations. They further theorized that the misalignment of the jaw caused the top vertebrae (the atlas) to misalign and each vertebrae below to then be effected.