hobbitcutie
12-14-2004, 04:17 PM
Hi, it's been a really long time since i posted, but after yesterday i just had to post! I've been wearing my acrylic splint for about 5 months now, and have steadily degraded (yes, i mean it's gotten worse) for about the past 3 months. When i got the splint, i could barely eat because it hurt to chew, and I was having extreme difficulties singing, which is a problem as i am a Music major, with voice as my instrument.
Anyway, the splint helped for a while, but yesterday hit a new low in joint function for me. My jaw had previously never locked, but i woke up and could not even open my mouth enough to fit 2 fingers in sideways. I had an appointment that morning anyway, and the doctor was able to get my jaw unlocked, but now he's saying i'll have to get a different splint, one that will move my jaw forward, requiring braces eventually. I'm beginning to think that this entire big mess will never get sorted out, and my jaw will always bother me. I'm only 18 years old! I've been told many times in my music studies that i have enourmous potential, but if my jaw keeps screwing up like this, i don't know if i'll be able to live up to that potential!
Has anyone else had these sorts of problems with the acrylic splint? I'm so lost with all of this stuff!
Anyway, the splint helped for a while, but yesterday hit a new low in joint function for me. My jaw had previously never locked, but i woke up and could not even open my mouth enough to fit 2 fingers in sideways. I had an appointment that morning anyway, and the doctor was able to get my jaw unlocked, but now he's saying i'll have to get a different splint, one that will move my jaw forward, requiring braces eventually. I'm beginning to think that this entire big mess will never get sorted out, and my jaw will always bother me. I'm only 18 years old! I've been told many times in my music studies that i have enourmous potential, but if my jaw keeps screwing up like this, i don't know if i'll be able to live up to that potential!
Has anyone else had these sorts of problems with the acrylic splint? I'm so lost with all of this stuff!
Sponsor
westin4
12-15-2004, 10:42 PM
I agree with Amy. As someone who has 6 splints in the last 8 years, I am not going to vouch for any of them. I can tell you this........some of them have given me tremendous relief, but, it is usually only temporary. Now, here is the clincher.......my dentist told me that with muscular tmj, it is just about impossible to make a splint and have it fix all of your problems because your muscles will deviate and then in turn if you have a splint that has caused your teeth to get comfortable in a position and they shift.......you are back to square one. This is my dentist's approach.........( he is one that I do trust ) He will make me a splint based on how I am doing.......if, and it usually happens......I reach a point where that one isn't working he will make me a different kind. Now, he is also writing off what my insurance will not cover so that is what makes this method possible. When he knew all the $$$$$ and time and lost years I had put into finding some help he just didn't even care about the money.
I hope you can find some answers. I think though that there is no tried and true splint.
Karen
I hope you can find some answers. I think though that there is no tried and true splint.
Karen
oldpal
12-16-2004, 04:27 AM
I agree with Amy. As someone who has 6 splints in the last 8 years, I am not going to vouch for any of them. I can tell you this........some of them have given me tremendous relief, but, it is usually only temporary. Now, here is the clincher.......my dentist told me that with muscular tmj, it is just about impossible to make a splint and have it fix all of your problems because your muscles will deviate and then in turn if you have a splint that has caused your teeth to get comfortable in a position and they shift.......you are back to square one. This is my dentist's approach.........( he is one that I do trust ) He will make me a splint based on how I am doing.......if, and it usually happens......I reach a point where that one isn't working he will make me a different kind. Now, he is also writing off what my insurance will not cover so that is what makes this method possible. When he knew all the $$$$$ and time and lost years I had put into finding some help he just didn't even care about the money.
I hope you can find some answers. I think though that there is no tried and true splint.
Karen
Hello Karen,
How can the muscles deviate when they're at rest and with a splint that will keep them at rest?
oldpal
I hope you can find some answers. I think though that there is no tried and true splint.
Karen
Hello Karen,
How can the muscles deviate when they're at rest and with a splint that will keep them at rest?
oldpal
oldpal
12-16-2004, 04:33 AM
Hello hobbit,
I'm sorry that you're going thru this. But if your splint was ok 5 months and assuming no adjustments were made, why couldn't you open your mouth now? Even if the splint does not pull your jaw down and forward, it should give you some space between the upper and lower teeth. I really don't know why it's causing your jaw to suddenly lock when it didn't before.
oldpal
I'm sorry that you're going thru this. But if your splint was ok 5 months and assuming no adjustments were made, why couldn't you open your mouth now? Even if the splint does not pull your jaw down and forward, it should give you some space between the upper and lower teeth. I really don't know why it's causing your jaw to suddenly lock when it didn't before.
oldpal
westin4
12-16-2004, 11:42 AM
hobbit,
I think most of us will tell you that we have had great relief from a splint, but, it is usually temporary. One thing I noticed is that you said that you have degraded over the last 5 months. What I am wondering is, maybe you are not in the correct splint or perhaps it doesn't fit right? Is your tmj muscular in nature?
As it was explained to me: I have had this so long it has become chronic and therefore my muscles are programmed to be in spasm. Even though I get into a comfortable position with everything, they have been this way for 14 years, they have to almost be deprogrammed. How long have you had tmj, hobbit? I do remember you from a while back, but I do forget the details of your history.
I hope you find some answers. Maybe even a different dentist. There are so many what if's with this.
Take care and keep us updated,
Karen
I think most of us will tell you that we have had great relief from a splint, but, it is usually temporary. One thing I noticed is that you said that you have degraded over the last 5 months. What I am wondering is, maybe you are not in the correct splint or perhaps it doesn't fit right? Is your tmj muscular in nature?
As it was explained to me: I have had this so long it has become chronic and therefore my muscles are programmed to be in spasm. Even though I get into a comfortable position with everything, they have been this way for 14 years, they have to almost be deprogrammed. How long have you had tmj, hobbit? I do remember you from a while back, but I do forget the details of your history.
I hope you find some answers. Maybe even a different dentist. There are so many what if's with this.
Take care and keep us updated,
Karen
hobbitcutie
12-16-2004, 07:09 PM
Well, when i went to the specialist, he said it was very unusual for someone my age (18) to backslide with that type of splint, so we'd have to try a more aggressive treatment he didn't want to try to begin with. I got a new splint, one that will move my jaw forward (very uncomfortable at the moment, but i'll get used to it). He said I have a lot of ligament damage, but we are kinda unsure about what caused my TMJ. It kind of seems to be genetic though, as many members of my family also have jaw problems. Even my 4-year-old brother's jaw pops, and i have had TMJ as long as I can remember, which made my doctor think it may be originally a structural problem. The new splint seems to be helping the popping, but i'm not sure what the braces (the next step of this program) are going to do. Do they move my teeth further back in my mouth, or angle them, or what? Will the structure of my face always look like it does now that i have the new splint? As i said, it seems to be helping but i still have so many questions!
westin4
12-16-2004, 10:47 PM
hobbit,
Honestly, I just don't know what to tell you about all of this. The dentist I am going to now said braces are NEVER the answer for tmj. He said they will just compound any problems you are already having. He said just like you take all your teeth out and replace them with perfectly lined dentures, but, you would still have the same tmj condition you started out with. I would get a second opinion before I went the braces route. If you have a joint problem itself, braces are not going to do anything for you. Just be careful, lots of dentists look at this as a way to make lots of$$$$.
I have a family history of tmj myself. Just please be careful and get more opinions before you do something permanent.
Karen
Honestly, I just don't know what to tell you about all of this. The dentist I am going to now said braces are NEVER the answer for tmj. He said they will just compound any problems you are already having. He said just like you take all your teeth out and replace them with perfectly lined dentures, but, you would still have the same tmj condition you started out with. I would get a second opinion before I went the braces route. If you have a joint problem itself, braces are not going to do anything for you. Just be careful, lots of dentists look at this as a way to make lots of$$$$.
I have a family history of tmj myself. Just please be careful and get more opinions before you do something permanent.
Karen