Last video, we discussed about the types and the functions of night guard. Here comes the juicy part of this series. The TMD devices.
Most commonly, there are two widely used TMD devices, anterior deprogrammer and Michigan splint. The devices are only custom-made in the dentists' office. The function of the devices are guiding the movements of the jaw, the movable part, and maintaining the most relax distance of your upper and lower dentitions while we are sleeping and grinding our teeth unconsciously.
Usually, we used anterior deprogrammer in a more acute stage of the TMD, and switch to Michigan splint for a more long term. Every dentists' might have different treatment concepts base on your situation.
For the Michigan splint, it usually takes up to 3-6 months for your muscle to relax and feels reliving of the jaw pain, if your TMD is categorized at the myofacial pain (muscle related).
Next episode, we will talk about, what if, you already grinned through 3 TMD devices or more. I have patients done that. What else can we do. See you next time!
