lucy25
01-19-2004, 08:31 PM
If I have ever needed you all it is right now. i have almost completed 4 months of splint therapy with minimal results. I went to my ortho for a third adjustment today and he said that my next visit will me to correct my bite! i know my bite is off because when i take my splint out to eat, my teeth don't go together anymore. But all you great people have said that I should be in a comfortable and relaxed postion before phase 2 begins. I told him this and he disagrees saying that i cant wear my splint forever! oh my gosh!!!!!!! i just got myself in debt for what???? i am so absolutely scared right now. He wants to file my teeth down to correct my bite! I was told that I shouldnt let him do that, EVER! So heres a question...what is phase 2 if he cant file my teeth down? please help me through this.
Lucy:(
ps...i am not giving up....i have been suffering for almost 3 years
I have also made a massage therapy appt for end of month - anything I should know about it?
OOps another quick question..i am going to have minor surgery(stomach) next week and am scared that they will hurt my jaw while putting in my breathing tube...will they be gentle?
Lucy:(
ps...i am not giving up....i have been suffering for almost 3 years
I have also made a massage therapy appt for end of month - anything I should know about it?
OOps another quick question..i am going to have minor surgery(stomach) next week and am scared that they will hurt my jaw while putting in my breathing tube...will they be gentle?
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saaraah
01-19-2004, 11:15 PM
phase II should not be done until your symptoms have gone away for at least 6-8 months, imo. also, phase I can last well into a year; it takes awhile for things to heal. 4 months seems to be way too soon to consider getting your teeth filed down. phase II can involve orthodontics, crowns, and filing off the teeth. however, that is done when all symptoms have been resolved, and you're stable.
did the dentist discuss with you at the onset that he might consider filing down some teeth? if you're not feeling comfortable with what he's suggesting [and it certainly sounds that way], dont do it. you are in charge; dont feel persuaded by him to do it. if he pressures you, that'd be a deal-breaker [for me].
i disagree with your dentist - it is possible to get a permanent splint if you dont want to go thru with irreversible changes to your bite.
it's very important to let the anesthetist and/or surgeons know that you have TMJD. im not sure if they can intubate you nasally or not - it's something to look into, so your TMJs wont be compromised.
take care,
- saaraah.
did the dentist discuss with you at the onset that he might consider filing down some teeth? if you're not feeling comfortable with what he's suggesting [and it certainly sounds that way], dont do it. you are in charge; dont feel persuaded by him to do it. if he pressures you, that'd be a deal-breaker [for me].
i disagree with your dentist - it is possible to get a permanent splint if you dont want to go thru with irreversible changes to your bite.
it's very important to let the anesthetist and/or surgeons know that you have TMJD. im not sure if they can intubate you nasally or not - it's something to look into, so your TMJs wont be compromised.
take care,
- saaraah.
Arleen
01-20-2004, 12:19 AM
Hi Lucy:
You're right, you should be comfortable and painfree, having been that way for a while before anyone starts phase II. You say yourself you've only seen minimal results so far in phase I. That sounds to me like you're no way ready to move to phase II. I wonder if the dentist doesn't know what to do next, since you've seen minimal results, and that's why he's rushing to move to phase II.
It's common that once you start wearing a splint when you're not wearing your teeth don't fit anymore. Like Saaraah mentioned (hi Saaraah!), phase II can involve orthodontics or restorative work to the teeth (e.g. crowns). Or a permanent splint. Not everyone wants their teeth adjusted.
I have to wonder why he is so quick to file your teeth down. Just remember that whatever you do, YOU are the one who'll have to live with the consequences, not the dentist. If you feel you've seen minimal improvement with the splint so far, maybe you and the dentist need to work on getting that right before you do anything else. You might also want to get a second opinion. It can't hurt (okay, it might hurt your pocketbook ;)
Good luck with your surgery next week. Be sure that they're clear on your TMJ problems. You might want to talk to your doctor or surgeon about this beforehand and see if there's something they can do to avoid causing your joints a lot of stress.
Take care.
You're right, you should be comfortable and painfree, having been that way for a while before anyone starts phase II. You say yourself you've only seen minimal results so far in phase I. That sounds to me like you're no way ready to move to phase II. I wonder if the dentist doesn't know what to do next, since you've seen minimal results, and that's why he's rushing to move to phase II.
It's common that once you start wearing a splint when you're not wearing your teeth don't fit anymore. Like Saaraah mentioned (hi Saaraah!), phase II can involve orthodontics or restorative work to the teeth (e.g. crowns). Or a permanent splint. Not everyone wants their teeth adjusted.
I have to wonder why he is so quick to file your teeth down. Just remember that whatever you do, YOU are the one who'll have to live with the consequences, not the dentist. If you feel you've seen minimal improvement with the splint so far, maybe you and the dentist need to work on getting that right before you do anything else. You might also want to get a second opinion. It can't hurt (okay, it might hurt your pocketbook ;)
Good luck with your surgery next week. Be sure that they're clear on your TMJ problems. You might want to talk to your doctor or surgeon about this beforehand and see if there's something they can do to avoid causing your joints a lot of stress.
Take care.
GenDen
01-20-2004, 01:26 AM
I would not let a dentist file down my teeth that was not concerned that I was completely out of pain for several months first. Actually, filing down the teeth weakens them and is usually not a good solution unless it is just one or two teeth. What if he files them down and you are still in pain? What then? I know this is not what you want to hear because of the cost, but I think you need to see someone else.
PINKYPRISCILLA
01-21-2004, 01:35 PM
Filing the teeth down do you mean an equilibration?
An equilibration is what I had done on my back molars
just small areas are shaved and shaped to "equilibrate"
you teeth he should not be shaving them -filing them down.
An equilibration is what I had done on my back molars
just small areas are shaved and shaped to "equilibrate"
you teeth he should not be shaving them -filing them down.
saaraah
01-21-2004, 02:32 PM
filing, shaving, and equilibriation of the teeth are all the same thing.
- saaraah.
- saaraah.
tina1966
01-22-2004, 05:30 PM
Hi, Sorry to hear your having such an ordeal with this. I am also in my 4th month of splint therpy with great results..and here's why..First of all, is your dentist a TMJ specialist as well? If so, he should be putting you on a special machine that can tell him if your bite is stable or not..if he does not have the special TMJ equipment then you must find a dentist who does! It saved me..It took 3 visits for me to get mine lined out well. Next, I see a physical therapist who has done wonders for me ..I do special exercices and get Myofascial Release done on my neck and back..it leaves me virtually pain free. I also wear a Tens unit on my upper back to help with pain also. My dentist however, wanted to do phase II on my as well by crowning all my teeth, I took some friendly advise off of this board and decided to definitly wait until 6 to 8 months of splint use. Please dont let him do anything to your teeth yet! I am also getting a second opinion next week about the treatent I have received thus far and about my phase II options.
Good Luck to you!!! Tina
Good Luck to you!!! Tina
lucy25
01-22-2004, 07:25 PM
Thank you all so very much for your replies. I thought I'd wait until I was a little more calm befor I replied. I have decided that I am going to wait a month ( because I just had an adjustment) before I go back to the ortho. I am going to schedule an appt ( at the end of the day!) and throw a list of questions at him. I believe all of you because you have and are living this. I think he just follows a general guideline for all TMJ patients and hopes for the best. Well that's not good enough for me! I know that I cannot go to another ortho because now I am in a lot of debt. I have not given up on this splint therapy either. What do you all think of this...do you think it is ok for me to continue wearing my splint (without getting adjustments) and go back to him when I AM READY to discuss phase 2 with him? Will this hurt me at all? I do not want to go backward at all. I am also hoping that this massage therapy will help me because my TMJ problems have been diagnosed as being muscular. Thank you all again for your interest in my "life" right now.
Lucy;>)
OOPS I forgot to ask one more question....before I was diagnosed with this I had seen 2 different ENTs because of my ear symptoms(of course they said that I had perfect hearing!) Do you think I should go back to an ENT to discuss with him my diagnosis? Is there anything that he can do for me now that I have a name for it? My main symptom is still hearing difficulties which result in daily migraine-like headaches.
Lucy;>)
OOPS I forgot to ask one more question....before I was diagnosed with this I had seen 2 different ENTs because of my ear symptoms(of course they said that I had perfect hearing!) Do you think I should go back to an ENT to discuss with him my diagnosis? Is there anything that he can do for me now that I have a name for it? My main symptom is still hearing difficulties which result in daily migraine-like headaches.
Arleen
01-22-2004, 07:59 PM
Hi Lucy:
I haven't been to an ENT so have no idea what they'd suggest should you see another one. I do, however, have sound sensitivity and ears that pop sometimes due to noise vibration. I didn't have ear problems for a very long time, but as TMJD progresses, it can cause all sorts of ear problems. It's because the joint is resting on a bunch of nerves. Likewise, some days my sight is perfect and other days is less focused. I was concerned and had my eyes re-checked, and like your perfect hearing, my eyes were fine, no prescription change necessary.
Your symptoms aren't unusual. There are a number of people on the board who've had ear and migraine problems. Perhaps one of them can suggest something.
Take care
I haven't been to an ENT so have no idea what they'd suggest should you see another one. I do, however, have sound sensitivity and ears that pop sometimes due to noise vibration. I didn't have ear problems for a very long time, but as TMJD progresses, it can cause all sorts of ear problems. It's because the joint is resting on a bunch of nerves. Likewise, some days my sight is perfect and other days is less focused. I was concerned and had my eyes re-checked, and like your perfect hearing, my eyes were fine, no prescription change necessary.
Your symptoms aren't unusual. There are a number of people on the board who've had ear and migraine problems. Perhaps one of them can suggest something.
Take care
Cymy Sue
01-23-2004, 08:44 AM
Hi Lucy,
I just wanted to add to the information the others have provided regarding having surgery with TMJ problems. I've had many, for TMJ and other problems. I have never had a problem with them hurting my joints or making my problems worse with surgeries unrelated to TMJ. The Surgeon and most importantly the Anesthetist shoud be made aware of your condition and how limited your opening is. Many years ago, this was sometimes a problem. In the last several years, I've found they are very aware of the problems they could cause. By telling them of your condition, it becomes their responsibility to not hurt you. Sometimes, they can use a nasal tube, but in any case, I haven't had any problems.
I've had two surgeries unrelated to TMJ since my disc were removed. I was not hurt at all, nor did my symtoms increase.
Best wishes,
Cymy Sue
I just wanted to add to the information the others have provided regarding having surgery with TMJ problems. I've had many, for TMJ and other problems. I have never had a problem with them hurting my joints or making my problems worse with surgeries unrelated to TMJ. The Surgeon and most importantly the Anesthetist shoud be made aware of your condition and how limited your opening is. Many years ago, this was sometimes a problem. In the last several years, I've found they are very aware of the problems they could cause. By telling them of your condition, it becomes their responsibility to not hurt you. Sometimes, they can use a nasal tube, but in any case, I haven't had any problems.
I've had two surgeries unrelated to TMJ since my disc were removed. I was not hurt at all, nor did my symtoms increase.
Best wishes,
Cymy Sue