Dentistry offers new treatment for the 23 million migraine sufferers that comes in the form of a simple and inexpensive non-pharmaceutical dental device. The NTI Tension Suppression System is a dental break-through that could change the quality of life for headache/migraine sufferers.
The NTI is the only device approved by the FDA for the prevention of migraine pain. It’s twice as effective as any preventive medication, and in clinical trials 82% of migraine sufferers experienced an average of 77% fewer migraines within the first 8 weeks of use.
Clenching teeth results in some of the strongest muscles in your body tensing up. The high-intensity contractions of the temporalis muscles (located on the sides of your head) can become painful, and the forces generated may cause pain to surrounding tissues, joints, and other muscles.
TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) syndrome can also cause pain in the face and head regions. It is a pain that is caused by similar muscle tension, as is the migraine pain so far described. TMJ (Temporo-mandibular Joint) syndrome is the older name given to this condition and includes MPD (myofacial pain dysfunction syndrome), internal derangement of the joint itself and degenerative joint disease (DJD). MPD syndrome can develop into internal derangement and DJD if not treated or if the conditions that caused it do not go away. Most of the causes for MPD is stress.
"Certain types of individuals seem to be more prone to develop MPD syndrome than others. Those who find difficulty in coping with stressful life situations or who are unable to successfully vent their emotions tend to build up inner tensions, which are then expressed in altered body activity. For some this alteration involved an increase in muscle tension. This can affect muscles in many areas, but for those with MPD syndrome the muscles with which they chew are mainly affected. Simply expressed, people with this syndrome are "uptight" in their jaw muscles. In some, the condition is further aggravated by tension-relieving habits such as clenching or grinding the teeth (bruxism). Those individuals who grit their teeth mainly in the daytime find that their symptoms get worse as the day progresses. Others do this at night and find that the pain and limitation of jaw movement are then worse in the morning. Although the significance of such habits was not always appreciated, these tendencies have been recognized for thousands of years." (Quoted from Daniel M. Laskin, D.D.S., M.S., Director Temporomandibular Joint and Facial Pain Research Center University of Illinois Medical Center)
The NTI appliance can be used with success for all these conditions. Some additional therapies, mouth guards and splints may also be needed to treat these conditions. The small NTI device fits between the front teeth, and can be worn at night or during the day. It prevents the jaw from intensely clenching the teeth, effectively minimizing the source of the pain – in many cases in just a few days.