Grinding and Clenching are 2 dental problems that result in jaw pain, teeth wearing down, teeth cracking and breaking and chipping. They are connected to TMJ disorders, as well as migraine and tension headaches, and can be treated with the NTI-tss, which stops grinding and clenching of the teeth.
Headache relief for 10yo boy with the NTI
I really, truly love treating patients for migraines and chronic headaches, and this was a case that was even more satisfying than usual, because my patient was only 10 years old when we made his NTI. He was in for a 6-month exam and cleaning today, and in talking with both him and his mother, we found that he was faithfully wearing his NTI and having 100% relief! Here's what his Mom wrote to us in thanking us for helping her son, even though the other doctors he'd seen said there was nothing wrong with him: ============================================== "Hassan began suffering from frequent headaches last year. It took a while to pinpoint the source of these headaches until Hassan visited Dr. Payet's office for a routine cleaning. During the exam, jDr. Payet asked Hassan if he had headaches in the morning and how often. This was a key question that eventually led to the discovery that Hassan would need a NTI to assist in aiding him with the necessary buffer to relieve the pressure of him clenching his teeth @ night. The clenching was the direct cause of his headaches. I'm happy to say that Hassan has been 100% pain free since he received his nightguard! We cannot thank Dr. Payet enough for the major role he played in correcting a major issue for Hassan." Laura F. ==================================
Does dentistry last forever?
How long will my dental work last? "It depends." This is a question that we get a lot, and it's a very understandable one, especially if you're about to invest your hard-earned money into your mouth, right? Just like a car, your teeth and gums require regular care to ensure that they are working properly. Sure, you can go 10-20,000 miles between oil changes given how improved cars are nowadays, but do you really want to take the risk? Same thing with teeth..........some people go for 5-10 years with no dental check-ups and are fortunate when they come in to find no problems, such as cavities or gum disease. But not many people are so lucky! I always remember a quote from some lecturer at a dental conference years ago telling us his response to this question, and it's really the most honest, best answer that can be given, "Clearly the teeth that God gave you haven't lasted your entire life, and since I'm not nearly as talented as God, my work won't last forever either." What Can Cause Dental Work to Fail? Grinding your teeth -- when the human jaw clenches, it can create an amazing amount of force, and over time, enough clenching will cause teeth to crack and break. Acidity -- anything that increases the acidity in your mouth is good for the bacteria that cause cavities, including Acid Reflux, Sodas, Power drinks (Monster, Red Bull, etc), Sports drinks (Gatorade, Powerade, etc). A very sugary diet -- the bacteria that cause cavities love sugar. High sugar content means the bacteria feed like crazy, produce acid, and the acid is what eats away the teeth to cause cavities. A weak immune system -- [...]
Sleep Apnea, Snoring, and Self-Tests/Info.
Snoring Isn't Sexy has recently added a FREE DOWNLOAD eBook and Self-Test on their website. I HIGHLY recommend this website for anyone who has concerns about sleep apnea, who is looking for a dentist in Charlotte who treats sleep apnea with oral appliances, and general information.
Just how outrageous is dental "insurance?" Check this out!
As a practicing dentist for almost 11 years now, in a practice that does accept assignment of dental insurance benefits, I have seen almost every conceivable attempt by dental insurance companies to hold up payment, deny payment, or anything they can do to keep the money that should rightfully help pay for your dental care. But this one took the cake for me, and I have to share. Which insurance company? Metlife. Seriously........they said there was not enough missing tooth structure due to decay or fracture on these teeth, and therefore they don't need crowns. Are they CRAZY!!!!!?!?!?!?!? [...]
13yo girl with back pain, headaches, jaw pain, acid erosion of teeth, ADD, gastric reflux, sleeps poorly….
So what's the connection amongst all these things? Is it possible there's one condition/issue that is a primary driving force behind all of these that, if addressed, could make an amazing difference in a young girl's life......for her entire life? The answer is (of course, or I wouldn't be asking such obvious leading questions, right? LOL :-) ) YES!!!! So what's the driving force behind all these health-issues, and what can be done about it? SLEEP APNEA!!! Let's list all those conditions out again and start connecting the dots: Lower back pain (no history of any accidents or trauma -- this one is a bit of a stretch, but since there are no other contributing factors, and she's been checked for scoliosis (curvature of the spine) and cleared, the fact that she's been suffering from back pain is most likely due to the muscle spasm involved in the other issues, and perhaps she needs a new mattress for better lower back support. Long history of headaches (decreasing somewhat recently, but still significant for a girl only 13 years old) - quite a bit of research now indicates that both chronic tension and migraine headaches are connected to sleep disorders, and it makes sense - if you can't breathe well at night and your brain gets less oxygen than it really needs, your brain/nervous system will get hypersensitized; any little trigger will make it go haywire, make muscles spasm like crazy, and result in headaches. Jaw pain/TMJ pain - Same as with the headaches; when the nervous system goes haywire, the muscles spasm like crazy, and your jaws will hurt; the joints get way too much pressure and pain can result, also the tissue in the [...]
Dr. Jim Boyd – creator of the NTI-tss therapy for headaches & jaw pain
I count myself very fortunate to have known Dr. Boyd for about 4 years now, and it was through online communication with him that I originally began learning about the NTI and the remarkable abilities it has, in the hands of a properly trained dentist, to provide amazing relief to so many patients who've suffered from migraines, chronic tension headaches, TMD, jaw pain, etc. Quite honestly, he's been a tremendous mentor and influence during that time, and I am grateful for all the hard work he has put in to educate both doctors and patients on what we call "Parafunction," more commonly referred to as bruxism, grinding, or clenching. I'd like to share with you a video that he has posted on YouTube for both professionals and the public, in which he explains so clearly why he developed the NTI protocol and how it works and why it works so amazingly well. If you'd like a Complimentary Consultation to if you think the NTI might help you, please call us at 704-364-7069 orRequest an Appointment through our website. [wpvideo 4aGKM07U]
Another Cracked Tooth due to Teeth Grinding
Grinding Your Teeth Can Literally Crack Them in Half I just can't say it enough - if you grind your teeth, you need a properly made and professionally adjusted dental nightguard! Perfect situation this morning: a young lady of only 29 years age came in for a root canal and crown because of a badly cracked tooth. It didn't look all that bad on the outside, and seeing how small the previous filling was, you'd really think that the chances of this are practically non-existent........but you'd be wrong. Take a look: And let me tell you - it is NOT a coincidence that this young lady has suffered from chronic migraines for years, but we haven't addressed that for her quite yet. First we had to get her out of the terrible pain she had every time she bit down. A Dental Nightguard Can Save You Money and Pain If you grind or clench your teeth (and notice that this tooth doesn't even look worn down or flattened), please be willing to spend a little money, even if your insurance doesn't cover it. It could literally save you THOUSANDS of dollars in dental treatment, lots of time in the dentist's chair, and even pain. Not convinced by this one tooth? Then check out my article on teeth damaged by grinding for decades! To make an appointment for a Complimentary Consultation: Request an Appointment Online or call us at 704-364-7069. We'll look forward to meeting you soon!
A great news story by NPR on Sleep Apnea in children
NPR aired a story this morning (March 5th, 2009) that has to do with snoring, sleep apnea, and the wide-ranging effects that they can have on behaviour, brain function, etc. This is something I"ve been studying and talking to patients about for several years now, but it's gaining wider acceptance in the medical fields. On the most basic level, sleep disorders cause a decrease in oxygen levels to the brain, which results in various decreases in function and can have significant effects on your overall health. Please take some time to listen to the reports and read the articles - wonderful information! NPR's reports on Sleep Apnea & Snoring
So I grind my teeth, Doc – what’s the big deal?
Many people grind their teeth. Many people clench their teeth. Many do both. The worst part is, though, that many have no idea that they do it, or how much damage they're doing to their teeth -- or how much it could cost to fix. Sadly, too, many dentists don't do anything about it either. Here are 2 examples of just how badly one can damage teeth by grinding/clenching. Common Myths About Teeth Grinding and Clenching Examples of Teeth Badly Damaged by Grinding and Clenching Look how uneven the teeth in the photos are. See the gum recession and the deep "notches" in the teeth? These things are NOT caused just by growing older and our mouths aging. It takes incredible force to wear down enamel, which is the hardest substance in your body. But once you wear through enamel into the second layer - dentin - that wears down much faster and the damage accelerates. How teeth can look after years of grinding and clenching. Teeth damaged by grinding & clenching become short, chipped, worn, jagged, sharp, and ugly Smile Reconstruction is Expensive - a Nightguard is Inexpensive Both of these gentleman wanted better-looking smiles. The second one was completed over 4 years ago; we are still in the process of completely rebuilding the mouth of the first gentleman. Needless to say, it is very expensive to rebuild teeth like this. Sadly, it could have been almost completely avoided if they had known about and used a nightguard years ago. So if you think you grind your teeth - call us today! Sure, your nightguard might cost several hundred dollars.........but what is that compared to thousands and thousands of [...]
Migraine and Tension Headache Treatment
One of my favorite therapies to offer patients is the NTI-tss, also known as the Nociceptive Trigeminal Inhibition - tension suppression system. From the name, it's easy to see why we simply call it the NTI, though. :-) Why is it one of my favorite therapies? For a very simple reason: it's not often that you can literally transform someone's life for the better in a couple weeks or months with no medications, no surgery, and at a very reasonable fee ....... but that is something that we do regularly with the NTI. It's such a simple-looking device, and it's often difficult for people to understand how such a small nightguard can make such a dramatic difference, and often even more difficult to believe that a dentist can help them, even after they have been to every other kind of doctor and had every kind of test and scan imaginable. How does a dentist treat migraines with the NTI-tss? The essential basis for why the NTI is so effective is this: we now know that many migraines and chronic tension headaches are triggered by either CLENCHING or GRINDING of your teeth. [...]
