Headaches can be classified into different categories based on their cause, symptoms and frequency: tension, migraine, sinus, cluster, etc. Some headaches may be dental in origin and can be treated by your dentist. If you have recently begun to develop headaches then you should see your doctor about the problem.
Tension headaches are a common form of headache that some estimate comprise about 90% of all headaches. Infrequent and mild episodes of tension headache can be treated successfully with over the counter medication. However, chronic tension headaches that persist over a long period require further intervention. Another chronic form of headache is migraine which shares its origin with chronic tension headaches in teeth clenching. This clenching may go unnoticed because it occurs during sleep.
If you have experienced these types of headaches on a regular basis over a long period of time then it is worthwhile discussing these headaches with your dentist. It may be the case that the cause of your headaches is your occlusion (how your teeth bite together). One of the consequences of a deficiency with the bite is that the muscles associated with opening and closing your mouth may be subject to abnormal tension and give rise to headaches. The source of the problem requires thorough diagnosis before any treatment can be considered.
It is possible to objectively assess and measure the state of these muscles using advanced diagnostic equipment (Biometric Analysis). The equipment is attached to specific points on a patient's face (using stick-on surface electrodes) in order to measure the activity of 4 different groups of facial muscles either side of the face (as shown below).
Information about the muscles is recorded for the patient at rest, tapping their teeth together, clenching their teeth and swallowing. The results of these readings in conjunction with other diagnostic tests and the findings of the detailed medical and dental examinations enable the dentist to establish with a high degree of confidence whether or not the bite is the probable cause of the headaches.
Should the bite be indicated as a primary factor in causing the headaches then the dentist may recommend a provisional course of treatment. This involves the fabrication of a splint - a plastic appliance worn over your teeth to adjust the bite into a better relationship. The splint may be custom made or may be one of several different pre-fabricated devices such as the NTI-tss (described below). The splint is worn over a period of time to establish that the headache has been resolved. The nueromuscular measurements are repeated to verify that the facial muscles no longer show abnormal activity.
At this point there are several treatment options available including the fabrication of a more permanent splint, the equilibration of your teeth to correct your bite or a TENS device to relax your muscles when you experience bad headaches.
The TENS machine can also be used in the early stages of treatment to alleviate pain.
The NTI-tss (Nocioceptive Trigeminal Inhibitor - tension suppression system) is a small acrylic device that can be fitted to the front teeth as a means of diminishing migraine and chronic tension headaches. The NTI-tss is normally fitted by the dentist in a single visit lasting about one hour. Normally the device is worn overnight for about eight hours and can be left out during the day.
The NTI-tss may also be prescribed for patients who are diagnosed with Bruxism. This is a parafunctional nocturnal activity where patients grind their teeth, often unknown to themselves. There may be no symptoms with the condition but a dentist can see signs of the condition in the mouth eg worn and chipped teeth, abfractions and fractured teeth. Often patients deny that they clench their teeth at night even when shown the evidence of their damaged teeth with an intra-oral camera. We can prescibe a night-time device worn on the outer cheek that will record the severity of bruxism overnight. Left untreated bruxism can cause significant damage to teeth. The NTI-tss may be prescribed for bruxism or alternatively a full coverage hard splint that covers all the teeth may be designed to protect the patient's teeth at night-time.
