Appliance Therapy for Migraines, Jaw Pain, and Sleep Apnea in Wilmington
Treatment of Migraine Headaches
Did you know that twenty-nine million Americans suffer from migraine headaches? While many causes for migraines exist, one common cause that most people don't even realize is clenching and grinding your teeth. 
Your jaw muscles are incredibly strong and capable of exerting enormous force on your back teeth and your canines. This process can make the muscles of your head and neck sore, triggering migraine headaches. For some people, migraines are debilitating and cause missed time from work and a reduced quality of life.
For many migraine sufferers, an oral appliance called an NTI-tss device provides relief. The NTI-tss works by fitting over your front teeth while you sleep, reducing the tension in your head and neck muscles. Many patients report a reduction in migraines of more than 75 percent after eight weeks of use.
NTI-tss appliances are affordable and easy to get used to. They do not have the side effects of pain-relieving medication often prescribed to treat the symptoms of migraines.
Treatment of Jaw Pain (TMJ Dysfunction)
Problems of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) are much more common than you might think. If you have a sore jaw, sore muscles, clicking, popping, locking, and grinding, or if your teeth do not come together correctly, you might suffer from TMJ dysfunction (TMJD).
We don’t always know the causes of TMJD, but grinding your teeth, trauma, an accident, stress, and missing teeth can all contribute to a sore jaw. At Smile Life Dental, we use exercises, analgesics, bio-stimulation, and nightguards to treat jaw pain. After an evaluation, Dr. Caselle can recommend a treatment option that would work best for you.
Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatment
Snoring can cause problems for your partner if it is loud enough to keep them awake. Many people do not know they snore until a family member shares the information with them, usually after a sleepless and frustrating night.
Did you know that snoring could indicate a condition called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)? Obstructive sleep apnea causes your airway to become blocked while you sleep. This happens because of your anatomy, weight, or loose tissue at the back of your throat and is more common in men than women, though the rate in women is on the rise.
While you sleep, a blocked airway sends a signal to the brain that you can’t get oxygen and causes you to wake up, though you may not remember it. OSA can cause patients to rouse hundreds of times a night, never allowing them to achieve a full night’s sleep. This lack of oxygen and quality sleep creates a number of serious health issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, depression, obesity, lack of focus, and can put others at risk because of daytime fatigue while you are driving a car or heavy equipment.
Often, we can treat mild to moderate OSA effectively with an oral appliance. Oral appliances are custom-made devices that gently slide your lower jaw forward, opening your airway so you can breathe.
Call to Schedule an Evaluation
If you have jaw pain, headaches, or your partner complains of snoring, call our Wilmington, MA office. We are currently welcoming new patients and look forward to providing you with relief.
