anyone have luck with NTI device - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

Pam1066 · 01-19-2009, 05:12 PM

Hello: I am new to the boards, but unfortunately not new to ongoing TMJ pain. I was wondering if anyone has had luck with the NTI device. I have been wearing it for a few days and actually feel worse. I have tried various other splints to no avail.
Do these splints actually work or are we throwing our money out the window. I am beyond frustrated!
Any feedback would be appreciated!!

Thanks!

temera2 · 01-20-2009, 07:10 AM

hey there , firstly welcome!!!

I'm afraid no the NTI device was no use to me!

But is it certainly different in every case of course!

It depends however are you a migraine sufferer, or more earaches?

I suffer primarily for earaches, i had a displaced disk they found a year after wearing the NTI so it wasnt helping me at all, however now i am in the upper and lower repositioning splints which have apparently fixed my displacement but i still get earaches caused by muscle spasm .. ARGH im so confused! but yeah what symptoms do you have?

Have you had any x rays??

Hope to hear from you soon! Hang in there, we are here for you champ!

Pam1066 · 01-20-2009, 07:20 AM

Hi - Thanks for your input!!
I suffer from mostly tension type headaches in the back of my head/neck that almost feel like migraines. My whole scalp is also very sensitive. And of course I am a night time clencher. It just seems as though none of the splints work. I don't know how to stop night time clenching!!
It's good to know that I am not alone..alot of people don't understand how debilitating this pain can be. Thanks for listening!

CatherineH · 01-20-2009, 08:15 AM

Your dentist may need to adjust your NTI. Have him/her check the vertical opening to be sure there is no contact on your back teeth or that you are not too open. You also want to be sure the discluding element is long enough that you are not moving off of it when you protrude or retrude your lower jaw.
Your Dr. may also want to check the angle of the discluding element.

Good luck! I have heard many success stories with the NTI. Don't give up just yet.

StillHope · 01-20-2009, 06:57 PM

Hi Pam1066,

These are very good remarks from CatherineH.
Clenching is usually the sign that there is something unbalanced with the bite. Based on your headaches it seems to me that you might be biting too strongly on your back teeth. Are they your natural teeth or did you have any work done on them: fillings, crowns, ...?
We surely understand how debilitating the jaw/dental pain is!