dal
04-18-2004, 01:07 AM
My ENT informed me that I have TMJ and I decided to try an over the counter night guard first before going through the process of having one made at the dentist office - I purchased 'The Doctor's Night Guard' and after fitting the guard to my upper teeth as per the instructions, I find that the guard does NOT fit snuggly around the teeth and will slip down if I open my mouth and lower my jaw. Can anyone tell me how the fit is supposed to be? When the guard is in the upper mouth, should it be able to shift/move as you open and close the lower jaw or should it fit snuggly and not move?
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tmosey
04-18-2004, 02:47 AM
dal,
The mouth guard should fit snuggly around your teeth. It should not move or slip at all. You should be able to open and close your mouth without it slipping at all. I have one (mine is from the dentist) and it works alright. The ones from the stores do not work as well as the ones from the dentist.
Good luck!
The mouth guard should fit snuggly around your teeth. It should not move or slip at all. You should be able to open and close your mouth without it slipping at all. I have one (mine is from the dentist) and it works alright. The ones from the stores do not work as well as the ones from the dentist.
Good luck!
westin4
04-18-2004, 11:02 AM
dal,
If you have tmj, I would be very leary about wearing something that is not made from custom molds for your teeth. If a splint does not fit according to your bite, and you have tmj, your symptoms are going to get worse, not better. I am curious, what kinds of symptoms do you have? My splint doesn't move at all, I have to eat in mine and it doesn't slip. But it stays in place unless I lift it out. I currently have a soft splint and am waiting for my hard one to be done, with those, they usually lock onto your teeth and you kind of "pop" them out.
Good luck!
Karen
If you have tmj, I would be very leary about wearing something that is not made from custom molds for your teeth. If a splint does not fit according to your bite, and you have tmj, your symptoms are going to get worse, not better. I am curious, what kinds of symptoms do you have? My splint doesn't move at all, I have to eat in mine and it doesn't slip. But it stays in place unless I lift it out. I currently have a soft splint and am waiting for my hard one to be done, with those, they usually lock onto your teeth and you kind of "pop" them out.
Good luck!
Karen
brwneyez9
04-18-2004, 12:19 PM
I would diffenetly go to your dentist and get one made. They should fit pretty snuggley. You don't want to be sleeping and it fall out. It doesn't do what it's suppose to do if it's not fitting. I agree with angel. If it's not made from a mold of your teeth then i wouldn't wear it.Call your dentist and get one made.
TiffanyAnn
04-18-2004, 10:35 PM
My ENT informed me that I have TMJ and I decided to try an over the counter night guard first before going through the process of having one made at the dentist office - I purchased 'The Doctor's Night Guard' and after fitting the guard to my upper teeth as per the instructions, I find that the guard does NOT fit snuggly around the teeth and will slip down if I open my mouth and lower my jaw. Can anyone tell me how the fit is supposed to be? When the guard is in the upper mouth, should it be able to shift/move as you open and close the lower jaw or should it fit snuggly and not move?
Hi dal:
With TMJ you need to have a splint that is specifically made for your mouth and your particular problem. The splints you buy at the store not only do not fit properly but in the long run can cause you further problems. I realize that the splints dentists make cost considerably more than those bought in the store cost but in the long run it is well worth it. You might consider getting in to your dentist to get a splint made for you.
Tiffany
Hi dal:
With TMJ you need to have a splint that is specifically made for your mouth and your particular problem. The splints you buy at the store not only do not fit properly but in the long run can cause you further problems. I realize that the splints dentists make cost considerably more than those bought in the store cost but in the long run it is well worth it. You might consider getting in to your dentist to get a splint made for you.
Tiffany
Ann123
04-18-2004, 11:05 PM
I don't know about all of them but the popular one "Dr Nightguard" says in the fne print in the directions that it is not recommended for people with TMJD. If it applies to that one I am sure it applies to them all.
Ann
Ann
maryrnbsn
04-19-2004, 09:50 PM
I have a splint that I had made through my TMJ dentist. It fits firmly on my lower teeth and does not slip or feel loose whatsoever. I have to push it on my teeth and gently pop it off when I don't want to wear it. I wear my splint at night only because I have a difficult time talking with it in my mouth. I tried the molds that you dip in boiling water when I had purchased an at home whitening kit but they never did fit very good. Did you try the "drop in boiling water" kind? My splint is a hard acrylic with metal supports imbedded in the acrylic for sability and strength. It was not cheap but I had to try something for my TMJ problem. I've only had it a little over a month now and I am starting to feel a LITTLE relief but no where near normal yet. Heck of a problem isn't it? Mary
westin4
04-19-2004, 10:42 PM
Mary, I am interested in the metal supports you said your splint had in it. I am in the process of having my second acrylic splint made, and I wish I was having supports made in it. Can you tell me where they are and if they offer protection from chewing damage as well?
Thank you, Karen
Thank you, Karen
maryrnbsn
04-20-2004, 09:41 AM
Karen, I will try to describe my splint to you. As I said before this was made to fit over my lower teeth. Right now I am looking at the splint upside down. The sides that would fit over your back molars have a wire mesh approximately 1/4 inch wide by 3/4 long imbedded in the acrylic.There is also a wire that extends from the sides and wraps around the front of the splint (this would be the front that would be in back of the front teeth - not facing out of your mouth) It is also imbedded in the acrylic. Then on each side (in front of the wire mesh but not the part that fits over the very front teeth) there are U shaped wires with very small balls on the ends. Now the U shape is imbedded but the small balls are on top and you can feel them. The balls fits between the sides of your teeth to provide a secure snug fit. You don't feel them at all. I don't know if my description gives you an adequate picture in your mind but I tried my best to describe it. I thought all hard splints were built this way but then I'm really new at this splint business. The splint tht I have covers all the lower teeth so I would assume it would protect the teeth from damage. Hope this helps. Mary
westin4
04-20-2004, 09:47 AM
Mary,
Thanks, great description. I chewed through my first acrylic splint in 3 months and seems like the wire and mesh would give it more durability! I wore my splint cracked in half for 4 years and had 3 great years of no symptoms. My dentist I have now said that my bite must have been really off on the splint to chew through it so quickly and the fact it felt sooooooo much better AFTER I chewed it in half. I have no idea what this new one will be like, I should get it next week sometime. I currently have a soft splint that has a "fiberous" material in it that you can see, probably like a mesh. It is good and has helped, but it is not that extreme sturdy platform like the acrylic. Thanks for all the info, I am going to ask him about it.
Karen
Thanks, great description. I chewed through my first acrylic splint in 3 months and seems like the wire and mesh would give it more durability! I wore my splint cracked in half for 4 years and had 3 great years of no symptoms. My dentist I have now said that my bite must have been really off on the splint to chew through it so quickly and the fact it felt sooooooo much better AFTER I chewed it in half. I have no idea what this new one will be like, I should get it next week sometime. I currently have a soft splint that has a "fiberous" material in it that you can see, probably like a mesh. It is good and has helped, but it is not that extreme sturdy platform like the acrylic. Thanks for all the info, I am going to ask him about it.
Karen