Chronic pain from TMD is a life-altering problem for many patients(1), and dentists around the world are researching ways to measure and mitigate TMD’s effect on patient health.
In a recently-published study, Dr. Patrick Girouard and Dr. Ben Sutter used an Innobyte device to quantify changes in maximum bite force in orofacial pain patients treated with digitally designed and milled orthotics. The orthotics were digitally produced for TMD patients using phonetics and TENS to find the jaw position.
Each subject’s maximum bite force in newtons (N) was measured using the Innobyte:
Without the orthotic
With the unadjusted orthotic as designed and produced
After the orthotic was adjusted with T-Scan data
The study authors found a significant difference between the 3 groups means: 519.17 N for no orthotic, 543.73 N for the unadjusted orthotic, and 604.67 N for the T-Scan adjusted orthotic. They further found that digital biometric instrumentation was necessary to measure and quantify these parameters.
To learn more about how bite force measurements with Innobyte were integral to this study, read the paper and citations: Orthotic Induced Changes in Maximum Bite Force in Orofacial Pain Patients with TMJ Internal Derangements using Innobyte by Patrick Girouard, DMD, MS, Ben A. Sutter, DMD.(2)
About the authors
Dr. Patrick Girouard DMD, MS
Dr. Girouard has received intensive university training for the diagnosis, management and treatment of temporomandibular disorders, jaw pain, headaches, sleep disorders, orofacial pain and other abnormalities associated with the craniomandibular structures.
Ben Sutter DMD, FAGD
Dr. Sutter uses cutting-edge technology to diagnose and treat problems related to jaw alignment. He offers neuromuscular dentistry and treatment for chronic headaches, migraines, TMJ dysfunction and whiplash.
TMD Resources:
(1) National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Board on Health Care Services; Board on Health Sciences Policy; Committee on Temporomandibular Disorders (TMDs): From Research Discoveries to Clinical Treatment; Yost O, Liverman CT, English R, et al., editors. Temporomandibular Disorders: Priorities for Research and Care. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2020 Mar 12. 3, Individual and Societal Burden of TMDs. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK558001/