saaraah
07-28-2003, 12:44 PM
i still feel like im a newbie at this board, but i certainly have learned a lot so far about neuromuscular dentistry [and how it's going to make me perfectly better forever and ever... ;) heheheh].
anyway, i know that splint therapy has drastically helped dianetmj, but i was wondering who else that it has helped.
the reason im wondering is that i need a way to gauge my "hope meter" for splint therapy. if it has only helped 1 person dramatically, then i dont need to get my hopes up... :) on the other hand, if many people have had relief, i can get excited about it.. i hope i've explained myself well.
- saaraah
anyway, i know that splint therapy has drastically helped dianetmj, but i was wondering who else that it has helped.
the reason im wondering is that i need a way to gauge my "hope meter" for splint therapy. if it has only helped 1 person dramatically, then i dont need to get my hopes up... :) on the other hand, if many people have had relief, i can get excited about it.. i hope i've explained myself well.
- saaraah
Sponsor
J-man
07-28-2003, 02:28 PM
Hey saaraah !
There seem to be a good number of people on this board who are finding some relief through neuromuscular dentists or you could say dentists who practice neuromuscular dentistry (myself included). It seems to make sense that if you can find a way to relax your jaw muscles on a consistent basis, which tens and other technologies can do fairly well, this is a good thing. However, I think that the neuromuscular approach may not be the best approach for all patients. For instance, some people may benefit more from using a repositioning splint.
For myself, I think I've benefitted from the treatments I've been receiving from my dentist for a number of reasons. The first is that he introduced me to low frequency tens, and I've since purchased my own unit, for use at home. It's really great to have something which on most days is able to provide me with some relatively predictable relief. If you aren't sure at this point whether a 'neuromuscular dentist' is for you, may I suggest possibly phoning one up and seeing if you can borrow a tens machine for a week, to use at home ?
The second reason why I think I've receieved help from a neuromuscular dentist, is that the splint he made for me is very thin, compared to most. For me, this has been much easier to tolerate wearing in my mouth. My dentist says that the diagnostic machinery he hooked me up to, was able to determine the maximum thickness, which my muscles would be able to tolerate having in my mouth.
Last of all, the fact that he has been willing to adjust my splint every 3-4 weeks, and sometimes more often that that, I believe has also played a role in me experiencing more consistent recovery than I would have, had he said, "see you in 2 months", which many dentist tend to say after adjusting a splint. (Actually my dentist has said this to me, but at least he has still been willing to see me more frequently than that...This has been a great blessing from God)
These have been the factors which I have found to be helpful to me in my tmj treatment. I very much hope that you are able to find a dentist near where you live, who will be able to help you find relief.
Have a great day and God bless !
John
There seem to be a good number of people on this board who are finding some relief through neuromuscular dentists or you could say dentists who practice neuromuscular dentistry (myself included). It seems to make sense that if you can find a way to relax your jaw muscles on a consistent basis, which tens and other technologies can do fairly well, this is a good thing. However, I think that the neuromuscular approach may not be the best approach for all patients. For instance, some people may benefit more from using a repositioning splint.
For myself, I think I've benefitted from the treatments I've been receiving from my dentist for a number of reasons. The first is that he introduced me to low frequency tens, and I've since purchased my own unit, for use at home. It's really great to have something which on most days is able to provide me with some relatively predictable relief. If you aren't sure at this point whether a 'neuromuscular dentist' is for you, may I suggest possibly phoning one up and seeing if you can borrow a tens machine for a week, to use at home ?
The second reason why I think I've receieved help from a neuromuscular dentist, is that the splint he made for me is very thin, compared to most. For me, this has been much easier to tolerate wearing in my mouth. My dentist says that the diagnostic machinery he hooked me up to, was able to determine the maximum thickness, which my muscles would be able to tolerate having in my mouth.
Last of all, the fact that he has been willing to adjust my splint every 3-4 weeks, and sometimes more often that that, I believe has also played a role in me experiencing more consistent recovery than I would have, had he said, "see you in 2 months", which many dentist tend to say after adjusting a splint. (Actually my dentist has said this to me, but at least he has still been willing to see me more frequently than that...This has been a great blessing from God)
These have been the factors which I have found to be helpful to me in my tmj treatment. I very much hope that you are able to find a dentist near where you live, who will be able to help you find relief.
Have a great day and God bless !
John
Tuffgreel
07-28-2003, 03:17 PM
I have been using various types of splints for atleast 7 to 8 years now. The full size splints, in hind site, seeem to have been the cause of many of my problems over that time frame. I had muscle spasms and many many headaches which were always blamed on something else. Last year my dentist recommended a different type of splint which is small and covers only my top to teeth and truthfully makes me look like a chipmunk, but I have had a marked difference in my health that I could hardly believe it was due to this tiny piece of plastic. It is try though that it needs frequent adjustments but I can tell right away, my jaw hurts and I get headaches. I highly recommend this type of device.
Arleen
07-28-2003, 05:26 PM
Hi Saaraah:
There are a number of people on the board who are in the process of seeing a neuro dentist. Of course, Diane is doing wonderfully well since she got her splint (yippee, Diane!) Heather and Tiffany just got splints and noticed an improvement within a day or two. Heather's dentist is a neuro. Tiffany's is an ortho. I'm not sure if he follows a neuro approach (Tiffany?). Navy, Robyn, Kami-girl (I think) have started seeing neuros but haven't got splints yet.I have an appt on Aug 8.
Take care,
Arleen
There are a number of people on the board who are in the process of seeing a neuro dentist. Of course, Diane is doing wonderfully well since she got her splint (yippee, Diane!) Heather and Tiffany just got splints and noticed an improvement within a day or two. Heather's dentist is a neuro. Tiffany's is an ortho. I'm not sure if he follows a neuro approach (Tiffany?). Navy, Robyn, Kami-girl (I think) have started seeing neuros but haven't got splints yet.I have an appt on Aug 8.
Take care,
Arleen
DianeTMJ
07-28-2003, 07:00 PM
Hi Saaraah,
Well, as you know, I have just wonderful results from my neuromusclar dentist. I think that if you are interested in giving one a try is to almost do an interviewing process. The most important thing is to try and find some way of making sure the ego is so big that they will not listen to you. That the ego has been set aside and compassion and a dedication to helping his TMJD patients recover. Also, it is real important to know where they were trained and the type of equipment, name brand that they use. IE, my dentist uses Myotronic, which I believe is one of the reasons why he has been so successful in treating my TMJD. He has taken all the classes at Las Vegas Institute but he also has taken classes by a Dr. Jay Gerber and Michael W. Mazzocco, DMD, PhD.
I couldn't agree more then with John. Call, let them know your concerns, your hesitation and see if they will allow you try out the low frequency Myotronic tens unit.
I hope all this helpe.
Take care
Diane
Well, as you know, I have just wonderful results from my neuromusclar dentist. I think that if you are interested in giving one a try is to almost do an interviewing process. The most important thing is to try and find some way of making sure the ego is so big that they will not listen to you. That the ego has been set aside and compassion and a dedication to helping his TMJD patients recover. Also, it is real important to know where they were trained and the type of equipment, name brand that they use. IE, my dentist uses Myotronic, which I believe is one of the reasons why he has been so successful in treating my TMJD. He has taken all the classes at Las Vegas Institute but he also has taken classes by a Dr. Jay Gerber and Michael W. Mazzocco, DMD, PhD.
I couldn't agree more then with John. Call, let them know your concerns, your hesitation and see if they will allow you try out the low frequency Myotronic tens unit.
I hope all this helpe.
Take care
Diane
TiffanyAnn
07-28-2003, 10:16 PM
Hi saaraah:
I just got my new splint last Friday and I am amazed at how much improvement I see for just having had it a few days. I have not had a killer headache since I got it. In fact, I haven't had a headache at all which I am so thankful for. I have had splints in the past but they have not helped me at all and some made me worse. I have had an upper splint, an NTI, a lower night guard type splint and now my new splint is a hard lower splint. I cannot tell you how much difference this splint has made in my life. I had great hope for the splint but I never dreamed it would help as much as it has in this short of a period of time. My ear symptoms are a bit less than they were, my jaw doesn't pop every time I open my mouth, I am in alot less pain than I have been in for years and I haven't had a headache in days. Alot depends on finding the right dentist/orthodontist. But I think the work is well worth the effort I put into it. I am very optimistic about my treatment and the outcome of it.
Tiffany
I just got my new splint last Friday and I am amazed at how much improvement I see for just having had it a few days. I have not had a killer headache since I got it. In fact, I haven't had a headache at all which I am so thankful for. I have had splints in the past but they have not helped me at all and some made me worse. I have had an upper splint, an NTI, a lower night guard type splint and now my new splint is a hard lower splint. I cannot tell you how much difference this splint has made in my life. I had great hope for the splint but I never dreamed it would help as much as it has in this short of a period of time. My ear symptoms are a bit less than they were, my jaw doesn't pop every time I open my mouth, I am in alot less pain than I have been in for years and I haven't had a headache in days. Alot depends on finding the right dentist/orthodontist. But I think the work is well worth the effort I put into it. I am very optimistic about my treatment and the outcome of it.
Tiffany
crystalll
07-28-2003, 11:41 PM
Hi Saarah,
I'm going to answer for Marlene, because I believe she's away for a few days.
Marlene is one of our "success stories". She had great success with Dr. Rondeau in London. If you do a search you'll find quite a few posts explaining how splint therapy worked for her.
Crystal
I'm going to answer for Marlene, because I believe she's away for a few days.
Marlene is one of our "success stories". She had great success with Dr. Rondeau in London. If you do a search you'll find quite a few posts explaining how splint therapy worked for her.
Crystal
saaraah
07-29-2003, 12:09 AM
thanks for all of your responses. it's encouraging to see that this type of treatment may be helpful and i wish you all better and more improved health. :)
im actually going to see dr. rondeau in london on august 13th. ahhh! hehe. im very excited.. but i'll see how it goes.
take care :)
- saaraah.
im actually going to see dr. rondeau in london on august 13th. ahhh! hehe. im very excited.. but i'll see how it goes.
take care :)
- saaraah.
jimmyt7
07-29-2003, 03:43 AM
so how would u describe your headaches? is it kind of a numbing headache?
Cymy Sue
07-29-2003, 04:11 AM
Hi Saaraah,
I know you asked about neuro-muscular splint therapy, but I wanted to let you know, that the "appropriate" splint therapy will work. From my recent experience, if you see someone who knows what you need for your stage of TMJD, you can be helped.
If you didn't read Literai's Topic of "Jaw/Joint Bone Breakdown", we had a long discussion on Splint Therapy working for people with bone loss and after surgical damage.
My Splint is designed using a different theory, but that only proves there are more and more people being helped, with a good Dentist or Doctor.
Like Tiffany, I had an immediate improvement in symtoms.
Good Luck,
Cymy Sue
I know you asked about neuro-muscular splint therapy, but I wanted to let you know, that the "appropriate" splint therapy will work. From my recent experience, if you see someone who knows what you need for your stage of TMJD, you can be helped.
If you didn't read Literai's Topic of "Jaw/Joint Bone Breakdown", we had a long discussion on Splint Therapy working for people with bone loss and after surgical damage.
My Splint is designed using a different theory, but that only proves there are more and more people being helped, with a good Dentist or Doctor.
Like Tiffany, I had an immediate improvement in symtoms.
Good Luck,
Cymy Sue