ranosb
08-20-2006, 09:32 PM
How can one tell if their disc is displaced or only just displacing when the jaw opens?
If its displaced even when the jaw is closed I guess thats where a splint would reposition it, but if its being displaced when you open it, it would seem a splint would not be needed and as long as you kept to a liquid diet and didnt open your mouth the ligaments should heal, no?
If its displaced even when the jaw is closed I guess thats where a splint would reposition it, but if its being displaced when you open it, it would seem a splint would not be needed and as long as you kept to a liquid diet and didnt open your mouth the ligaments should heal, no?
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raylp
08-20-2006, 10:37 PM
an MRI would tell you about your displacement.
As far as splint repositioning, I don't know. That sounds like a question for a TMJ specialist.
As far as splint repositioning, I don't know. That sounds like a question for a TMJ specialist.
GoodThings
08-22-2006, 11:29 AM
How can one tell if their disc is displaced or only just displacing when the jaw opens?
If its displaced even when the jaw is closed I guess thats where a splint would reposition it, but if its being displaced when you open it, it would seem a splint would not be needed and as long as you kept to a liquid diet and didnt open your mouth the ligaments should heal, no?
Hello,
Displaced discs are the result of joints being severely out of place. But if you can open your mouth, which means your joints are more or less in the right place, you shouldn't have displaced disc. But do you click when you open your mouth?
GT
If its displaced even when the jaw is closed I guess thats where a splint would reposition it, but if its being displaced when you open it, it would seem a splint would not be needed and as long as you kept to a liquid diet and didnt open your mouth the ligaments should heal, no?
Hello,
Displaced discs are the result of joints being severely out of place. But if you can open your mouth, which means your joints are more or less in the right place, you shouldn't have displaced disc. But do you click when you open your mouth?
GT
ranosb
08-24-2006, 12:05 AM
Yes my mouth clicks on one side and sightly deviates from the left(clicking side) to the right.
What would that be?
What would that be?
GoodThings
08-25-2006, 03:16 AM
Yes my mouth clicks on one side and sightly deviates from the left(clicking side) to the right.
What would that be?
Hello,
This is my experience: i lost vertical dimension on my left side. Sometimes it clicks on my left side and sometimes not. But i always click on my right side even though i gained some height on my left side. Clicking has to do more with the anatomy of the disc in my situation. The middle of the disc, where the condyle sits, is pretty thin. But the sides are pretty thick or bulky (wrong description?). So when i lost vertical dimension on the left side, the whole jaw sort of tilted. So, although my right side has the right height, the condyle isn't in the right place. That's where the clicking comes from on the right side. But you can also get clicking if your jaw is sitting back on the fossa. My sort of clicking was mentioned in Dr. Terrance Spahl's book, volume III. I would recommend anyone reading that book, volume III, before seeing a dentist. It's very technical and you can learn a lot. In my honest opinion, you WON'T get cured or find a good doctor if you don't read it simply because you have no idea what's going on with you. And we all know that most TMJ doctors are in it for the money. So yes, i would say it is a must read.
take care,
GT
What would that be?
Hello,
This is my experience: i lost vertical dimension on my left side. Sometimes it clicks on my left side and sometimes not. But i always click on my right side even though i gained some height on my left side. Clicking has to do more with the anatomy of the disc in my situation. The middle of the disc, where the condyle sits, is pretty thin. But the sides are pretty thick or bulky (wrong description?). So when i lost vertical dimension on the left side, the whole jaw sort of tilted. So, although my right side has the right height, the condyle isn't in the right place. That's where the clicking comes from on the right side. But you can also get clicking if your jaw is sitting back on the fossa. My sort of clicking was mentioned in Dr. Terrance Spahl's book, volume III. I would recommend anyone reading that book, volume III, before seeing a dentist. It's very technical and you can learn a lot. In my honest opinion, you WON'T get cured or find a good doctor if you don't read it simply because you have no idea what's going on with you. And we all know that most TMJ doctors are in it for the money. So yes, i would say it is a must read.
take care,
GT
ranosb
08-26-2006, 02:42 AM
Does the clicking every go away? What are the odds?
GoodThings
08-26-2006, 08:01 PM
Does the clicking every go away? What are the odds?
Clicking will never go away. But there are always exceptions. ie. you change bite again.
GT
Clicking will never go away. But there are always exceptions. ie. you change bite again.
GT
raylp
08-26-2006, 09:05 PM
Clicking can go away. It depends on the circumstances and the treatment.
GoodThings
08-26-2006, 10:51 PM
Clicking can go away. It depends on the circumstances and the treatment.
I was assuming that if you don't do anything, then the clicking will never go away. It will be there until something else happens to you. But yes, it can be fixed.
GT
I was assuming that if you don't do anything, then the clicking will never go away. It will be there until something else happens to you. But yes, it can be fixed.
GT
MaggieMay78
09-07-2006, 04:55 PM
anomie,
What is your function like...in other words, can you chew? (not bagels! but most other foods...) Can you open your mouth fairly wide, brush your teeth, etc?
If you have a serious loss of function, or cannot open your mouth wide at all...I understand how frustrating that could be. But I agree, try not to rush into surgery. If your opening is super-small, that is cause for concern...but if it's enough to function at least somewhat normally, then you may want to avoid surgery, at least for now. there are people who have good outcomes from surgery, but it's not as predictable as, say, arthroscopic knee surgery or something else that has become quite "routine" these days.
The bottom line is this--most likely, your disc will not go back on its own. BUT, the thing that many people seem to forget is that the jaw, in some cases, can accommodate itself. Many people function with displaced discs, with minimal pain. Just make sure you have the best splint possible, and take care of your jaw as best you can right now. I am very curious to hear what your opening/function is like?
good luck,
Meg
What is your function like...in other words, can you chew? (not bagels! but most other foods...) Can you open your mouth fairly wide, brush your teeth, etc?
If you have a serious loss of function, or cannot open your mouth wide at all...I understand how frustrating that could be. But I agree, try not to rush into surgery. If your opening is super-small, that is cause for concern...but if it's enough to function at least somewhat normally, then you may want to avoid surgery, at least for now. there are people who have good outcomes from surgery, but it's not as predictable as, say, arthroscopic knee surgery or something else that has become quite "routine" these days.
The bottom line is this--most likely, your disc will not go back on its own. BUT, the thing that many people seem to forget is that the jaw, in some cases, can accommodate itself. Many people function with displaced discs, with minimal pain. Just make sure you have the best splint possible, and take care of your jaw as best you can right now. I am very curious to hear what your opening/function is like?
good luck,
Meg
MaggieMay78
09-07-2006, 11:39 PM
yes, dealing with TMJ disorder definitely requires a LOT of patience!!! I wish there was a quick fix :( I guess I am used to being patient, as I dealt with a very complicated medical situation in the past (rare complications of a leg surgery), and it took years to resolve it. Even now, I am still dealing with chronic pain from that. But that is not all meant to scare you! With the right help, you might get better faster than you think...it's important to stay as optimistic and patient as possible. It's pretty difficult to predict how long it might take for each of us to get better...but I like to think we will all reach that point soon :)
Anyway, I wish I could tell you more about the MAGO splint, but I don't have any experience with that. Do you know how many millimeters you're opening? The dentist definitely should be measuring that, and should tell you the number of millimeters. Right now, I am opening at 44-45mm. My discs are displaced (with reduction, according to MRI)...but I think it's the muscles that restrict my opening. I think in the past, I had a VERY wide opening, probably something like 52-55mm! But I'll take 45 for now, and it has gradually been getting wider. I am not even wearing a splint now, and am still undecided about whether I should try a new one. My last one was a disaster, but I didn't know much about splints and the dentist was not skilled at making them. My bite still feels off, and I have constant headaches in my left temple...it's awful...that is why I'm still undecided about whether I should try a new splint. I don't want one that makes me worse, like the last one did!:mad:
anyway, hang in there, we're here for you! I am curious to hear more about the MAGO splint, if you want to share that information with us!
Anyway, I wish I could tell you more about the MAGO splint, but I don't have any experience with that. Do you know how many millimeters you're opening? The dentist definitely should be measuring that, and should tell you the number of millimeters. Right now, I am opening at 44-45mm. My discs are displaced (with reduction, according to MRI)...but I think it's the muscles that restrict my opening. I think in the past, I had a VERY wide opening, probably something like 52-55mm! But I'll take 45 for now, and it has gradually been getting wider. I am not even wearing a splint now, and am still undecided about whether I should try a new one. My last one was a disaster, but I didn't know much about splints and the dentist was not skilled at making them. My bite still feels off, and I have constant headaches in my left temple...it's awful...that is why I'm still undecided about whether I should try a new splint. I don't want one that makes me worse, like the last one did!:mad:
anyway, hang in there, we're here for you! I am curious to hear more about the MAGO splint, if you want to share that information with us!
GoodThings
09-08-2006, 03:11 AM
My question is -- will the disc ever go back? My left disc is not reducing (i.e. won't go back in place). I'm being treated with a MAGO splint but my doctor says it is likely the disc will never go back. I find this an unacceptable outcome, and yet surgical options don't seem very successful either....
Damn that bagel! I'd be happy if I never see a bagel ever again! One lousy bite, and I'm already thousands of dollars in the hole and my joint may never recover...
Yes, the disc will definitely go back when done correctly. I've seen cases where they did. Not only with disc, but with severe tmj headaches. I can tell you for certain that your joint isn't where they're suppose to be.
GT
Damn that bagel! I'd be happy if I never see a bagel ever again! One lousy bite, and I'm already thousands of dollars in the hole and my joint may never recover...
Yes, the disc will definitely go back when done correctly. I've seen cases where they did. Not only with disc, but with severe tmj headaches. I can tell you for certain that your joint isn't where they're suppose to be.
GT
luvtocamp
09-08-2006, 02:15 PM
I also saw a tmj dentist that teaches the obi concept. I seen him for 1 year and it didn't work for me but thats me. He had my jaw to far back. He also made me new dentures that will need to be replaced. He is a very caring doctor and I really liked him, but the treatment didn't just work for me.
ArtsyAthlete
09-08-2006, 09:56 PM
My experience...
I have had loud popping of my right TMJ during opening, at about 25mm. My jaw has pretty much full ability to open - my max opening is 52 mm. I have pain on the left TMJ but no popping there. However, when my mouth is almost fully open, I hear crunching and grinding noises, like there is sand in my ear, on both sides.
My MRI shows anterior displacement of BOTH discs. They are displaced when my mouth is closed and displaced when open also. The popping noise is caused my the disc on the right side being pushed and sort of balling up, and then the joint reaches a point where the disc can't ball up anymore and it slides back suddenly, making the popping noise. This is called disc displacement with reduction.
Based on what my specialist has told me and what I have read, splint therapy can resolve displaced discs if the disks are being pulled out of position by muscle spasm or joint displacement. You can have disc displacement and still be able to open your mouth all of the way (I can). Also, the splint therapy helps to resolve the disc displacement by relaxing the jaw muscles and allowing the joint to find its most natural position. Your mouth is closed or mostly closed most of the time, otherwise a splint wouldn't do much. :)
Sometimes the disc is displaced and fixed by adhesions in the joint. This is also the case with me - on both sides. Other than the reduction on the right side, my discs are immobile. They are also both slightly degenerated. Because of the adhesions, my best shot at successful splint therapy will probably also include arthroscopy to release the adhesions, otherwise those discs won't go back where they should be.
Sometimes splint therapy doesn't help, but based on my reading, there is a high rate of success if the TMJ is treated early on before significant damage to the discs and bony structures can occur. Even with the adhesions, there is a good chance splint therapy will help. (I don't have my splints yet -- my moulds are at the lab.)
So, I hope this information was helpful. :)
I have had loud popping of my right TMJ during opening, at about 25mm. My jaw has pretty much full ability to open - my max opening is 52 mm. I have pain on the left TMJ but no popping there. However, when my mouth is almost fully open, I hear crunching and grinding noises, like there is sand in my ear, on both sides.
My MRI shows anterior displacement of BOTH discs. They are displaced when my mouth is closed and displaced when open also. The popping noise is caused my the disc on the right side being pushed and sort of balling up, and then the joint reaches a point where the disc can't ball up anymore and it slides back suddenly, making the popping noise. This is called disc displacement with reduction.
Based on what my specialist has told me and what I have read, splint therapy can resolve displaced discs if the disks are being pulled out of position by muscle spasm or joint displacement. You can have disc displacement and still be able to open your mouth all of the way (I can). Also, the splint therapy helps to resolve the disc displacement by relaxing the jaw muscles and allowing the joint to find its most natural position. Your mouth is closed or mostly closed most of the time, otherwise a splint wouldn't do much. :)
Sometimes the disc is displaced and fixed by adhesions in the joint. This is also the case with me - on both sides. Other than the reduction on the right side, my discs are immobile. They are also both slightly degenerated. Because of the adhesions, my best shot at successful splint therapy will probably also include arthroscopy to release the adhesions, otherwise those discs won't go back where they should be.
Sometimes splint therapy doesn't help, but based on my reading, there is a high rate of success if the TMJ is treated early on before significant damage to the discs and bony structures can occur. Even with the adhesions, there is a good chance splint therapy will help. (I don't have my splints yet -- my moulds are at the lab.)
So, I hope this information was helpful. :)