Dr. David Frey’s Journey to TMD Relief: The Story Behind the Clench Relief® Mouthpiece
Table of Contents
Dr. David Frey: Finding TMD Relief
Hello, my name is Dr. David Frey, I am the inventor of the Clench Relief® Pro Rx Mouthpiece and I’d like to share the story of my journey into the world of Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD), also known as TMJ. This field has become a cornerstone of my practice and my passion, rooted in both professional and deeply personal experiences. The following is a brief (and somewhat nerdy) story of how the Clench Relief Pro Rx Mouthpiece came to be.
Grounded in understanding the Bite
In the early 2000s as I worked with more and more patients as part of my restorative practice, I became increasingly curious how proper bite alignment could influence not just oral health but overall well-being. I thought to myself, these porcelain restorations are so strong and durable, I wonder if they can support the forces of everyday chewing and biting. Traditional dental teachings on bite alignment often neglected the role of muscle relaxation and joint positioning and this is one of the main reasons why restorations would fracture after a dentist restores a tooth. Like a psychiatrist working to understand their own mental condition, I was suffering from TMD symptoms and egocentrically motivated in optimizing my bite into a physiologically correct position of comfort and relaxation.
This led me to the discovery of neuromuscular or physiologic dentistry, which incorporates muscle data into diagnosis, and it revolutionized my understanding of how important a jaw position is to overall health and well-being.
Using tools like electromyography (EMG) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), I began to study how muscles functioned during jaw movements. This data allowed me to identify the ideal, relaxed jaw position for each patient—a position where muscles are calm and the jaw aligns physiologically. By obtaining a bite registration in this optimal state, I could develop a bite plane that is level with the horizon and thus design a dental appliance in this position that could help alleviate pain and discomfort associated with TMD.
Transforming Lives, Starting with My Own
This journey was transformative. Using the very techniques I had developed; I experienced firsthand the profound relief that comes from a proper jaw alignment. This personal experience fueled my commitment to helping others find the same freedom from pain associated with TMD.
Patients who came to me with chronic headaches, jaw pain, neck tension, and even symptoms like dizziness and ear fullness began to experience life-changing results. By realigning their jaws and creating custom bite planes, we were able to address the root causes of their discomfort. We had to work backwards in the fact that first the muscles had to relax into a physiologic position and then the bite registration would pave the way for the location of the relaxed bite position which I started calling the “Zone of Comfort”. This was determined after the muscles are in a place of relaxation; and I should note, this step is often missed by a typical dentist who is treating TMD patients. For many, the results were nothing short of miraculous—pain vanished, smiles improved, and quality of life soared.
The Birth of the Clench Relief® Mouthpiece
As I continued to refine my techniques, I began to think about how to make this pain relief accessible to more people and for a lot less money than dentists will charge. In 2008, amidst the challenges of the recession, I had an idea: what if I could create a device that allowed patients to find their ideal jaw position on their own with a simple mouthpiece? After years of research and development, the Clench Relief® Mouthpiece was born.
This device uses an anterior alignment guide to bring the jaw into a forward, relaxed position. By filling the back molar spaces with dental putty known as PVS, or polyvinyl siloxane, while the anterior alignment guide holds the lower jaw in this position, patients can create a simple, customized mouthpiece that holds their jaw in the optimal alignment. This simple yet effective solution has been a game-changer, offering affordable relief to countless individuals.
A Mission of Compassion and Care
My journey in TMD care has spanned over 25 years, and every step has been driven by a deep desire to improve lives. I’ve seen how debilitating TMD can be—how it affects not just physical health but emotional well-being. For me, this work is personal. It’s about giving people the freedom to live without pain, the confidence to smile, and the knowledge that they’re being cared for with empathy and expertise without paying tens of thousands of dollars.
To anyone suffering from TMD, know that there is hope. The Clench Relief® Mouthpiece is here to guide you on a journey to relief, using proven methods and a heartfelt commitment to your well-being. Together, we can find solutions that work for you.
