laina
03-20-2006, 05:02 PM
I am going to the oral surgeon next Monday. I am finally finished wearing the stupid repositioning splint after a year. Now, I am a little nervous about the next step. My oral surgeon told me after this splint we would be ready to start Phase II treatment. I have no idea what that entails, but I'm worried because Phase I (repositioning splint) was horrible. Does anyone know what Phase II treatment is? Thanks.
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laskalady
03-20-2006, 07:56 PM
Im starting phase one next week!! What was so horrible about it? I iwll have to wear a splint 24/7 just to unlock my joints..and then i go to another splint..im sure its gonna suck. I was told phase 2 is braces or crowns..or some kind of shaving of the teeth ... each situation being different.
laina
03-20-2006, 08:33 PM
The repositioning splint was horrible. I don't think everyone has this kind of splint though. This is a large bulky splint made of hard acrylic that fit over my lower teeth. I had to wear it to pull my lower jaw forward (reposition my jaw). I had to wear it 24/7 for about a year until my jaw settled in where my Dr. wanted it. It was really uncomfortable to wear, and my teeth don't really feel comfortable in the new jaw position. I'm not sure what the Phase II will be, but I am nervous that my phase II will be surgery. How eles could they keep my jaw in it's new position?
laskalady
03-20-2006, 11:45 PM
Hmm..I dont think phase 2 will be surgery if your jaw is back in the proper position. Usually phase 2 is for holding that position. I am seeing a tmj guy who doesnt do surgery and he said phase 2 can be crown...shaving your teeth or braces. He recommended braces for me as he says the splint will leave me with an open bite. Do you have an open bite? Did you have limited range of motion before you wore your splint? Did you take it out to eat even? sorry for so many questions... I'm sure not looking forward to the splint.
laina
03-21-2006, 12:07 AM
I don't mind the questions. Will you be wearing a repositioning splint? I could take the splint out to eat, brush, and floss. I had a few teeth filed a few weeks ago, which has made my bite feel really off and uncomfortable. My range of motion before the splint was pretty limited. It also varied depending on the day. I do have an open bite now, I think as a result of the splint because I never had that before. Your Dr. said you would need braces to fix the open bite? I think I may be seeing my very near future :(
laskalady
03-21-2006, 02:12 AM
My range of motion is pretty bad.. about 25mm. I was told by my dentist that you could keep using the splint as long as you want if you dont want to go to step 2. He told me not to even take mine out to eat! Has your range of motion improved? I really hope mine does.. Havent had normal opening in 7 mos.
laina
03-21-2006, 04:49 PM
My range of motion has improved. I also don't have as much discomfort as I did before. Only my bite feels off. I couldn't have eaten with my splint in, food would have gotten into the grooves where my lower teeth fit. I am going to proceed with Phase II because I don't want to wear that splint again, as it was really bulky. I've already come this far and seen improvement, so I guess I'll do whatever I have to do next.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
sunflower22
03-22-2006, 09:58 PM
I also have to wear an upper splint 24/7 it's arcle and not bulky. I do take it out to eat, brush my teeth and clean it. It doesn't rought me all that much to wear it. I have been wearning it for a year and 3 months. And my pain has been 100 percent butter and I am able to enjoy my life again. My TMJ is pretty bad and I will never do braces.
laskalady
03-23-2006, 01:54 AM
Sunflower,
Why wont you do braces? I'm getting an upper splint also as I couldnt open my mouth wide enough to get molds of my bottom..is this why you all have upper splints as well?
Why wont you do braces? I'm getting an upper splint also as I couldnt open my mouth wide enough to get molds of my bottom..is this why you all have upper splints as well?
laina
03-23-2006, 04:49 PM
I had an upper splint because my lower jaw needed to be pulled forward. I wore a lower splint before that one though. I prefer the lower, as they are less noticeable.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
sunflower22
03-24-2006, 11:27 AM
Sunflower,
Why wont you do braces? I'm getting an upper splint also as I couldnt open my mouth wide enough to get molds of my bottom..is this why you all have upper splints as well?
I got 2 impressions done top and botton. But my dentist said a top one I would be able to talk much better. I only can open about 30.
Why wont you do braces? I'm getting an upper splint also as I couldnt open my mouth wide enough to get molds of my bottom..is this why you all have upper splints as well?
I got 2 impressions done top and botton. But my dentist said a top one I would be able to talk much better. I only can open about 30.
laskalady
03-24-2006, 05:23 PM
How exactly does this splint look? Is it covering all of the top teeth? I was told I had to get a special splint just to unlock my joints..then I'll go to a lower splint which I'll use for another 6 mos. Has anyone with limited opening had to use 2 splints like this?
laina
03-27-2006, 05:21 PM
The repositioning splint is a hard acrylic splint that fit over my upper teeth. Instead of being flat on the bottom it had grooves for my bottom teeth to fit into, so that my lower jaw could be pulled forward. I have worn a lower splint before this particular one.
Hope this helps :)
Hope this helps :)
laina
04-04-2006, 04:46 PM
Phase II for me is apparently going to be a small splint for my upper teeth for 6 months, with braces on the lowers. Then after the six months I am going to have baces also on the uppers as well as lowers for 6 months. I feel like this has been going on forever!!! I just want my mouth back!!! Sorry to vent. Anyone else have this? Did it work?