NTI Splint • Splint Therapy • Dentist-Led TMJ Assessment
Jaw pain can affect everything—eating, talking, sleeping, and even your mood. If you’re dealing with jaw clicking, facial tension, headaches, or tooth grinding/clenching, you may have a TMJ / TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder) .
At Active Health Clinic Glasgow, our in-clinic dentist assesses jaw function, bite factors, and muscle overload to create a clear plan. Treatment may include a custom NTI splint or other splint therapy options designed to protect your teeth and reduce excessive jaw muscle activity.
Book an assessment to find out what’s driving your symptoms and the most suitable approach for you.
What is the TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint)?
Your temporomandibular joints (TMJs) sit just in front of your ears and connect your lower jaw (mandible) to your skull. They work with the jaw muscles, teeth, and bite alignment to allow smooth movement for chewing, speaking, yawning, and swallowing.
When this system becomes overloaded or irritated, people often describe:
- Pain in the jaw joint or cheeks
- Clicking, popping, grinding, or locking
- Tension headaches / migraines
- Tooth sensitivity, tooth wear, or cracked teeth
- Ear symptoms (pressure, aching, ringing) without an ear infection
- A feeling your "bite is off" or your jaw is tired
“TMJ” is often used casually to describe jaw problems, but the broader clinical term is TMD (temporomandibular disorder) —which covers joint irritation, disc issues, muscle tension, and bite-related overload.
Common Causes of TMJ / Jaw Pain
TMJ symptoms are rarely “one single thing.” Common contributors include:
- Clenching and grinding (bruxism)
Often worse during stress, intense focus, or sleep—overloads the jaw muscles and joint. - Muscle overactivity and tension
Jaw muscles can become tight and fatigued, creating pain around the cheeks, temples, and along the jawline. - Bite imbalance or occlusal factors
The way your teeth meet can influence muscle load and joint stress. - Joint irritation / inflammation
From overload, trauma, or repeated micro-strain.
How We Assess TMJ Problems
Your first appointment focuses on identifying what type of TMJ/TMD presentation you have and what’s sustaining it.
Assessment may include:
- Symptom history (pain, clicking, headaches, locking, sleep quality, stress load)
- Jaw opening/closing mechanics and range of motion
- Joint sounds and tenderness
- Muscle tension patterns
- Bite and contact pattern review
- Advice on next steps based on your presentation
From there, we’ll explain your findings clearly and recommend a plan—often including splint therapy to reduce overload and protect the jaw system.
TMJ Treatment Options We Offer
1. NTI Splint (Nociceptive Trigeminal Inhibition)
An NTI splint is a small, custom dental device typically worn over the front teeth. It’s designed to reduce the intensity of clenching/grinding by changing how the teeth contact, which can help to reduce overload on the jaw muscles and TMJ system .
Who it may help:
- Night-time clenching/grinding (bruxism)
- Jaw muscle pain and tightness
- Tension-type headaches linked to jaw overload
- People who wake with a tight jaw or temple discomfort
What to expect:
- A dental fitting appointment (and follow-up review)
- Guidance on wear schedule and adaptation
- Ongoing monitoring to ensure it remains comfortable and effective
Important: Splints are not “one size fits all.” Your dentist will advise whether an NTI is appropriate for your symptoms, bite, and overall jaw presentation.
2. Other Splinting Options (Stabilisation / Bite Splints)
Some people benefit more from a full-coverage stabilisation splint (often worn at night) or other splint designs depending on:
- Joint vs muscle-dominant symptoms
- Tooth wear patterns
- Bite stability and comfort
- Clicking/locking patterns
- Previous dental work or sensitivity
If an NTI isn’t the best match, we’ll discuss other splint options and the reason for the recommendation.
What Results Can You Expect?
Splint therapy can help by:
- Reducing clenching/grinding load
- Supporting jaw muscle relaxation
- Protecting teeth from wear and damage
- Improving morning jaw tightness and tension headaches
Some people notice improvement quickly, while others may need a period of adjustment and follow-up, depending on how long symptoms have been present and what’s driving them.
TMJ Self-Help Tips (That We Commonly Recommend)
These are simple and effective starting points:
- Avoid prolonged wide opening (big yawns, large bites) while irritated
- Keep "lips together, teeth apart" during the day
- Reduce chewing overload (gum, tough foods) during flare-ups
- Become aware of daytime clenching triggers (driving, screens, stress)
- Follow splint wear instructions as advised
Your dentist will tailor guidance to your symptoms and your goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always. Clicking can be common. We focus on whether it’s painful, worsening, or associated with locking/limited opening.
That depends on your symptoms, bite, and risks. Your assessment will determine the most suitable option.
If headaches are linked to clenching/grinding and jaw muscle tension, splint therapy may help reduce the trigger.
This varies. Some people use splints short-term during flare-ups, while others benefit longer-term. This will be guided by your dentist.
Testimonials
Hear What Our Customers Are Saying…
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Having recently moved to Glasgow i was looking for a regular sports massage and I am so glad I found Active Health Clinic.
Eszter is fantastic, listens carefully to how things have been feeling and adapts the massage to suit any problem areas.
She is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about what she does which shines through.
Highly recommend Active Health Clinic for sports massages.
I haven’t utilised their physio therapy services but have a feeling they will be to an equally high standard.
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I can’t thank Active Health Clinic enough for the help I’ve received. I went in with severe sciatica and the improvement after treatment, especially the dry needling, has been amazing. The relief has made a real difference to my day to day life.
A special thank you to Andrea for making me feel comfortable and at ease when I was nervous about the treatment. She took the time to explain everything and her calm, professional approach made the whole experience far easier than I expected.
I’m extremely grateful to the team and would highly recommend Active Health Clinic Glasgow to anyone dealing with pain or mobility issues.
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Limped in to the clinic in September to see if they could help me.
I had chronic back pain and would have been happy with any level of improvement.
After my assessment and a massage and acupuncture session Rebecca gave me a series of exercises to strengthen the core muscles supporting my lower back.
I decided to go for it and although it was difficult to start with, once I had gone through the initial pain barriers and a few more clinic visits I started to gradually feel the benefits.
December now and I’m almost pain free and signed up for the gym – not bad for a 74 year old!
Thank you Rebecca, gave me my freedom back.
Book a TMJ Assessment in Glasgow
If jaw pain, clenching, headaches, or clicking are affecting your day-to-day life, we can help you understand what’s happening and what to do next.
Call us or book online for a TMJ assessment and a personalised plan that may include an NTI splint or other splint therapy options .