I really don't know. If it were a factor, it might help diagnose
clenchers, but it would be hard to do much about.

It has an effect in sleep apnea and snoring.

D

Yes. (IOWs it is approved for both<g>)

Parafunctional activity exists in different forms.  Some amount of
muscle activity is probably normal during certain sleep stages as
the animal that we are. (have you ever watched a dog or cat sleep?)

When this behavior gets beyond healthy limits, signs and symptoms
begin to show.  Everything is determined by exactly what is happening
combined with the structures involved with the activity.

The intensity and the duration of the activity is also very important.

Some people clench extremely hard and lock their teeth together without
really grinding them.  Others do not clench to extreme, but do grind
the teeth against one another.  A severe clencher is going to crack
more teeth and fracture restorations, while a bruxer is going to wear
things down.

There also are people who seem to both grind and clench.

To further complicate the issue, how the teeth are shaped, arranged,
and how they fit (occlusion) in realtion to the TMJs, has an effect
upon tooth and jaw pain.

Now add all of the muscles associated with the trigeminal nerve.  The
extent of their activity during the clenching and/or bruxing activity
relates to the sinus pain, headache, neck pain, etc.

The discluding element of the NTI prevents posterior teeth from coming
in contact during sleep and greatly reduces the clenching intensity.
It also prevents damage due to bruxism in the same fashion.

By limiting the clenching intensity, the muscles of the head and neck
are more relaxed and the whole parafunctional activity is interupted.

Dentistry used to believe that if the teeth were in the perfect
alignment relating to one another and the TMJs, then the problems
of clenching and bruxism would be solved.  Various theories and
occlusal designs have been attempted over the years.  None has
proven to be *the* answer during practical application on living
subjects.  Many continue the quest for this 'holy grail'.

The NTI sets all of these studies of occluSION on their ear by
stressing that the occluDING (what activity exists with the teeth
touching) is more important than how the teeth fit together in
the first place.

D

Well, don't leave me in suspense.  What the heck is A.G.E.LK?
Give!  :-)

Eva