Nociceptive Trigeminal Inhibition
Tension Suppression System (NTI-TSS)
21st Century Dental is proud to offer the latest advancement in dentistry
for the prevention and cure of headaches through the use of the NTI-TSS
appliance. The explanation below will help you better understand how
the appliance works.
Dear Dr. Smith, Dr. Roy and Staff,
You recently fitted me for the NTI device, and I want you to know
that I have had immediate relief from my early morning headaches. As
you know, I've
dealt with tension and migraine headaches for many years and no headache
therapy has relieved the pain as quickly and effectively as the NTI. Thank
you for making this device available to me. ~Joann T.
Chronic symptoms of the head and neck can often be attributed
to:
A) Headache and the temporalis muscle (which closes
the jaw)
B) Sinus pressure and pain and the lateral pterygoid
muscle (which moves the jaw laterally)
C) Neck stiffness and pain and the trapezius (which
stabilizes the skull during jaw closure)
Contraction of the lateral pterygoid (A, above)
simply moves the jaw sideways (or if both contract, front wards). If
the temporalis (B, 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.
As temporalis contraction intensity increases, the lateral
pterygoids must work harder, creating symptoms where the muscle is
attached (the TM joint and sinuses), and obligating the trapezius to
maintain a tightened posture (stiff and sore neck).
When there is temporalis contraction exclusively (no
lateral activity), 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 (above).
A 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 (above, left). The
same splint also provides an ideal
clenching surface. The temporalis can be felt contracting (it will
bulge slightly) when clenching with or without a splint.
An object placed in the mouth on the front teeth (as
a pencil), reduces the temporalis' contraction intensity by at least
66%. An "Anterior Midline Point Stop" (AMPS) with specific modifications
can prevent the temporalis contaction intensity, thereby treating and
preventing: chronic headache, TMJ problems, sinuses signs and
symptoms, and stiff and sore neck.
The N.T.I. Tension Suppression System is a prefabricated
poly carbonate matrix that a dental practitioner retro-fits to the
patient's teeth (not exclusive to the upper teeth, above is just one
example).
