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Migraine Prevention --
Headache Prevention
The N.T.I. Tension Suppression System is a prefabricated
polycarbonate matrix that a dental practitioner retro-fits to the
patient's teeth . It is completely different from any other type of
mouthpiece. Here's the rationale. |
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Chronic symptoms of
the head and neck can often be attributed to:
A) Headache -- the temporalis muscle (it closes and clenches
the jaw)
B) Sinus pressure and pain -- the lateral pterygoid muscles
(it moves the jaw side to side and/or forward)
C) Neck stiffness and pain -- trapezius muscle (it
stabilizes the skull during jaw clenching and grinding)
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Contraction of the lateral pterygoid (B, above) simply
moves the jaw sideways (or if both contract, front wards). If the
temporalis (A, above) contracts simultaneously (clenching),
the intensity of the temporalis contraction dictates the degree
of resistance the lateral pterygoids encounter when they attempt to
move the jaw sideways (grinding). As temporalis
contraction intensity increases, the lateral pterygoids must work
harder, creating symptoms where the lateral pterygoid muscle is
attached: at the jaw joint and sinuses. This conflicting
and/or isometric contracting of the musculature (called "parafunction",
which occurs during sleep with considerable intensities) obligates
the trapezius (across your upper back and shoulders and attaches at
the base of the skull, C, above) to maintain a tightened
posture, thereby causing stiff and sore shoulders and/or neck. |
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(above) When there is temporalis contraction (clenching)
exclusively (no lateral pterygoid activity, that is, not sideways of
forward movement), the jaw joint and sinuses are less strained,
while resultant temporalis pain may be considerable.
Tension-type headache patients without jaw disorders clench their
jaws 14 times more intensely while sleeping than do asymptomatic
controls You can feel your temporalis muscles bulging out when
clenching vigorously. |
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"Traditional" full coverage dental mouthpieces.
Top: Soft and covers over the entire arch Bottom:
Hard and covers only the biting surfaces
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traditional dental mouthpiece, or splint, reduces the resistance to
side-to-side movement thereby reducing the effort and resultant
strain to the jaw joint and sinuses (so long as clenching
intensity isn't too intense). However, the same splint also
provides an ideal clenching surface, where maximum clenching
intensity may increase and/or allow jaw joint problems to
perpetuate. |
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The NTI device is a
pre-fabricated matrix that your dentist retro-fits and customizes to
your front teeth (sometimes the device is adapted to the lower front
teeth...it will still work the same). |
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If only the front teeth are engaged (like biting on a pencil,
for example), the temporalis is prevented from achieving its maximum
contraction intensity! |
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The NTI device snaps into place and fits comfortably on either
the upper or lower front teeth. It is worn during sleep and
prevents the intensity of muscular parafunction. For migraine
sufferers, there is a more discreet version for daytime use, which
is usually required (in addition to the pictured nighttime device)
for 6 to 8 weeks for best results. Chronic, intense nighttime
muscular parafunction has been shown to be a considerable influence
on the triggering of migraine events. In clinical trials, 82% of
medically diagnosed migraine patients had a 77% reduction in
migraine episodes within the first eight weeks of use.
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