Temporomandibular disorder, or TMD, is a chronic condition that causes persistent pain in the jaw joints of millions of Americans. The temporomandibular joints connect the lower jawbone to the skull. Because this joint is used so often as we speak, eat and even yawn, unpleasant pain, movement restriction and popping may sometimes occur.
Some of the symptoms of TMD include:
- Pain around the jaw
- Pain and/or stuffiness in the ears
Persistent headaches and/or neck aches- Change in the alignment between the upper and lower teeth
- Facial swelling on the sides
- Popping jaw
- Jaw muscle spasms
- Locked jaw or restricted movement in the jaw
Please contact us for an appointment if you are experiencing any of the above symptoms. We will be able to determine if TMD is present and what type of treatment is available to alleviate your symptoms.
If you are not experiencing any of the above symptoms, let us help you maintain the health of your jaw joints! There are number of things you can do to help prevent the development of TMD. Things like relaxing your face and avoiding tooth grinding to chewing food evenly on each side of your mouth to refraining from constant gum chewing can help reduce your risk of developing TMD.
Treatment with NTI
We utilize the NTI-tss appliance in treatment of TMD, bruxism and migraines. NTI-tss is a revolutionary custom-created mouthpiece that you wear at night that minimizes wear on your teeth, protects teeth, veneers and crowns from fractures and breaks, protects the TMJ by reducing joint strain and stops the over stimulation of the Trigeminal Nerve, which is located within the face and neck.
Bruxism
Bruxism is the unconscious habit of grinding, gnashing or clenching the teeth, which can lead to tooth fracture or loss, jaw disorders and headaches. It is caused by stress and tension, and symptoms can be relieved – and many times eliminated - by the NTI-tss appliance.
Migraines
Migraines are severe tension headaches that as many as 40 million Americans suffer from. Research shows that the NTI-tss appliance reduces the number of migraines a person suffers from by 77% in the first eight weeks of usage.
TMD
The NTI-tss can relieve TMJ pain by reducing the force of excessive teeth occlusion at night, which over-stimulates the trigeminal nerve.
About the NTI-tss
The NTI-tss mouthpiece is custom made to fit each person to ensure proper bite and secure fit. Made of clear plastic, the mouthpiece covers the front teeth and serves as a bite guard. Because it reduces the amount of muscular activity caused by the trigeminal nerves, it is FDA approved for the prevention of medically diagnosed migraine pain and jaw disorders. This appliance also helps hyperactive muscles to rest by providing a stable position in which to relax.
If you’d like to know more about the NTI-tss device and whether it may help you with any conditions you may suffer from such as migraines, bruxism or TMD, please schedule a consultation with us.