PREVENTING MIGRAINE HEADACHE PAIN BY SUPPRESSING THE INTENSITY OF NOCTURNAL MUSCULAR HYPERACTIVITY


To date, dentistry’s attempt to reduce the signs and symptoms of muscular hyperactivity1 with a traditional intraoral device has not guaranteed a reduction in hyperactivity. But it has disrupted the activity. Temporalis activity either increased or remained unchanged in 58% of subjects; however those with an increase in activity also had an increase in symptoms.



The Internal Headache Society diagnosis migraines with the following criteria:

  • Headache pain lasts 4 to 72 hours
  • Is aggravated by normal routine physical activity
  • Is accompanied by at least one of the following: nausea, photophobia, phonophobia
  • No objective evidence of related disease is observed following a complete medical workup

    Traditional splints provide an ideal clenching surface (vertical arrows). Some patient’s muscular hyperactivity exploits the opportunity and increases muscular activity.


    The Suppression of the intensity of muscular hyperactivity...

    Research has been ongoing involving the theory that muscular hyperactivity may be the cause of migraines. The result of such research was an intraoral device that has proven to reduce migraine symptoms2. As you can see in the picture to the left, traditional acrylic bite splints can still cause contact over sensitive areas on both arches. However, the design of the NTI-tss device
    (left) dentist placing NTI-tss device, (right) actual picture of the NTI-tss device.
    allows less incisor contact, as well as reducing canine contact all together. By modifying the traditional splint in this mannor, the intensity of mandibular clenching can be reduced to one-third of the intensity before the use of the NTI-tss device3.


    FOOTNOTES

    (1) Muscular Hyperactivity can be defined as overactive movements of the muscle,
    in this case involving overactive movements of the jaw.

    (2) Lamely PJ Steele JG, Aitchison T Migraine: The effect of acrylic
    appliance design on clinical response. Br Dent, J. 1996: 180(4):137-140

    (3) Becker, I Tarantola G, Zambrano J, Spitzer S, Oquendo D. Effect of prefabricated anterior bite stop on electromyographic activity of masticatory muscles. J Prosthet Dent. 1999;82(1):22-26

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