TMJ and braces

[jinxed]

I have had TMJ for a long while now, but it is slowly progressing. Although I don't have much pain. The clicking in my jaw is driving me insane. My jaw hasn't really "locked up" on me, but a few times it felt like it might. It's clear to see that my jaw is misaligned. I also have a constant feeling of stuffiness in my ears that I am told by my ENT could be due to TMJ. I wear a night guard because I grind my teeth.

Anyhow, went to my dentist again yesterday and told him I want to correct it before it gets worse. He suggested two things: A splint on my lower teeth that I wear ALL the time to reposition my jaw or braces to shift my teeth and my jaw will kind of follow.

I am 37 years old and have straight teeth.

I was wondering has anyone ever had the splint and/or braces used to treat TMJ? If so, what was the outcome? I am leaning towards braces and any help or advice would be great.

 

[ladycollector]

Just a little heads up,

I am wearing braces right now and it's GIVING me TMJ. And the orthodontist doesn't seem to care! Im not going to say any more because it might get ugly. LOL, Im so mad!

I think that the splint thing would be better just from my personal experience, but braces may be right for you.

Good luck! ~kk

 

[danacara]

I think I'd get a second and third opinion. Do you like your dentist? Call him and ask who the best orthodontist, oral surgeon, and ENT (onolaryngologist) in your area are, and go see them. Only take the best - the difference between a great orthodontist and an average one is night and day, it's worth the money to see the best. Also, give your health insurance company a call and see what their policies are around this. It sounds like this is painful to the point of debilitating. Hope it gets resolved for you.

 

[rascalmom]

Wish my dh is home - he'd love to give you some answers to some of your questions. He is a general dentist, but has spent the last 3 years doing extensive study in the area of TMJ. He also has TMJD himself. Please be sure that you are seeing someone who has done more that just 2 or 3 "weekend" classes in this area. It is very complex. The reasons for the pain and the correct treatment can vary widely. Take a look at this website: www.aacfp.com for the American Academy of CranioFacial Pain, that should be a starting point for finding someone well qualified in your locale. I can tell you that for most patients, a splint is a temporary step in the treatment process that can help get you out of pain, TX is completed by orthodontics, surgery, crown lengthening or equilibration- which shouldn't be the first step because it can make the situation worse. My husband has been wearing a splint to get his problem stabilized and has started orthodontics. His teeth were very straight and he had braces as a teen. His grandfather and uncle were both dentists. A perfect example of why it is important to really go to someone who has studied this area and knows what they are doing. Good luck! If you have any specific questions you can PM me and I'm sure dh would be happy to answer your questions when he gets home this evening.

 

[piglet too]

I am sorry that you are having so many problems with the TMJ. I too suffer from it, and just fond out the "name" earlier this year right here on the DIS. I would so no to the braces, as I can't see how that would really help. An above poster put in a link that I went to and it is really good. I don't know if any of them are close to you, but I would try ansd see someone who specializes in TMJ.

 

[jinxed]

ladycollector- That's awful. Something that is supposed to be improving your teeth is actually causing more problems. Have you considered a second opinion?

danacara - I really do like my dentist. He warned me that it will be a complex procedure and a lot is involved. I trust his work. He hasn't let me down yet.

rascalmom - Thank you for all the information and the website. checked it out and has tons of information in it. I wasn't aware that I really wanted to make sure my dentist was very informed and knowledgable in this. I am going to ask him a lot of questions now. I may take you up on the PM offer if I have any more questions. I am going back to talk to my dentist this Thurday. Thanks again.

 

[T16GEM]

I started to get a funny clicking in my jaw around April time when I ended up in the Emergency room because I panicked so much and got myself into a real state over it.
My jaw seemed to get a bit better and I took anti-inflamitory drugs for about a month to try and calm down the tissues.

Thr biggest mistake I made was going to the dentist for a routine filling, he injected me twice with anesthetic and then wrenched my mouth open so wide that by the time he had finished my jaw was so traumatised by it that I could only open my mouth about halfy an inch. I couldn't even get a banana in my mouth without breaking it up. The dentist said that it would start to work loose on it's own but so far I have only progressed enough for a banana!! (That's how I measure the improvement). One think that has improved is that my jaw no longer clicks. The dentist gave me a sheet with some excercises on it I can PM this to anyone who would like to try it. The exercises are meant to strengthen the muscles that support the jaw.

I didn't realise that this problem was to common. My Doctor says that it is more common in young women (I am 23) and he says that most women grow out of it. I had a lot of orthodontic treatment when I was a teenager and they think that it could have been a contributary factor for the problems that I have now.

rascalmom I may PM you so that you can ask your DH some questions if he doesn't mind.

 

[T16GEM]

hey guys, a coup of you have PM'd me to ask for the exercises, I will pop home during my lunch hour and get them and then I can post them for you.

Thanks
Gems

 

[T16GEM]

Ok you guys here are the exercises. I have just copied the sheet out.
I hope they help. I have PMd them to those of you who PMd me about them,


The purpose of the exercise is to prevent clicking of the jaw and to strengthen the muscles which pull your jaw backwards. It will relax the muscles which pull the jaw forwards or to one side as you open your mouth. This will take the strain off your joints.

Set aside two five minute periods every day at a time when you are relaxed and have nothing on your mind. One good time is just before you go to bed; another perhaps when you get home from work. Sit upright in a chair and carry out the following maneuvers.

1. Close your mouth on your back teeth, resting the tip of your tongue on your palate just behind the upper front teeth.
2. Run the tip of your tongue backwards on to the soft palate as far back as it will go, keeping the teeth in contact.
3. Force the tongue back to maintain contact with the soft palate, and slowly open your mouth until you feel your tongue just being pulled away from the soft palate. Do not try to open your mouth any further. Keep it in this position for 5 seconds and then close your mouth. Relax for five seconds.
4. Repeat this maneuver slowly over the next five minutes in a firm but relaxed fashion.

As you open your mouth you should feel the tension in the muscles at the back of your jaw and beneath the chin.

For the first few times that you do the exercised you should check in front of a mirror that the lower teeth move vertically downwards – that is, there is no slight movement from side to side as you open your mouth.
If the exercise is being carried out correctly there will be no clicks or noise from the joints. If there is then you are making an error in carrying out the exercise.

Do the exercise no more that the recommended amount for th first week. Inititially it may seem to make your pain worse but this will be as a result of unaccustomed exercise. There after, do the exercises as often as you can and this will help to strengthen the ligament around your joints.

If the exercise is carried out correctly and regularly, over a two or three week period you will retrain your muscles so that your jaw opens and closed smoothly without any clicks or jerks, and any pain you are experiencing will subside.

Avoid biting on your front teeth
Never Bite your Nails.