Patient complains of new, or persistent, or increased jaw or joint discomfort...

Canine contact in excursive postion with excessive vertical dimension

In this scenario, an excursive position allows for canine contact with the NTI-tss in place, which is creating excessive vertical dimension (center, arrows), meaning on the opposite side, the condyle is considerably translated (right).  The more translated the condyle is, the more strain it is subject to.  With the canine able to occlude, clenching intensity on the ipsilateral side may persist (left).  The contra-indicated remedy would be to increase the height of the Discluding Element.
By reducing the cusp tips of the occluding canines and the height of the DE, vertical dimension is closed to a more therapeutic level.  This has decreased the degree of translation of the contra-lateral condyle, and eliminated the resistance utilized by the lateral pterygoid to strain its condyle.  Without the canine contacts, clenching intensity is significantly reduced.
PRIMARY PRECAUTION
Even in the scenario below, where there is seemingly "minimal" posterior freeway space, the altered canines may still be forcing excessive translation on the opposite side.  In the event that the patient's *primary condition* is joint-related (for example, an advanced arthitic condition), even the slightest degree of translation is an irritant, and the NTI-tss may be contra-indicated.  (click here regarding a typical presentation of a contra-indication)