Jammix
08-30-2006, 10:35 PM
Hello.....
I have a very tense, tired facial system, especially in the muscles of
the mandible, that traces back to the removal of my wisdom teeth some
years ago. It was through an oral surgeon who removed all four just as
they were coming through and IV sedation was utilized. Is it at all
comprehensible that an array of "TMJ" symptoms could be rooted in this
wisdom tooth surgery? I took the antibiotics for only one day or so,
instead of completing the prescription, because I was responding with
nausea and stomach upset and diarrhea. I used salt-water locally. An
infection? Possible nerve damage? What are your thoughts both on the
possible causes and possible treatments of a very stiff, dull, tense,
tremorous TMD condition? It feels, I think, like how a jaw would feel
when injected with local anesthetic.. before it has worn off. It is
always like that. I wish there was something to do, but what really
could be done? Obviously a thorough examination is required for a
thorough, personalized analysis, but based upon your expertise and
knowledge, what is your thinking in general as per what has been
outlined here?
J
I have a very tense, tired facial system, especially in the muscles of
the mandible, that traces back to the removal of my wisdom teeth some
years ago. It was through an oral surgeon who removed all four just as
they were coming through and IV sedation was utilized. Is it at all
comprehensible that an array of "TMJ" symptoms could be rooted in this
wisdom tooth surgery? I took the antibiotics for only one day or so,
instead of completing the prescription, because I was responding with
nausea and stomach upset and diarrhea. I used salt-water locally. An
infection? Possible nerve damage? What are your thoughts both on the
possible causes and possible treatments of a very stiff, dull, tense,
tremorous TMD condition? It feels, I think, like how a jaw would feel
when injected with local anesthetic.. before it has worn off. It is
always like that. I wish there was something to do, but what really
could be done? Obviously a thorough examination is required for a
thorough, personalized analysis, but based upon your expertise and
knowledge, what is your thinking in general as per what has been
outlined here?
J
Sponsor
Thelma-Louise
08-31-2006, 01:52 AM
If it started with the extraction of your wisdom teeth the only thing that comes to mind is that maybe your jaw joints were over stretched during the procedure, that you were kept open for too long of a period or a nerve was damaged during the procedure. Were they visible before extraction? Did you use them when chewing? If they were, perhaps your bite changed after their extraction. Where the teeth were extracted - is there a lump or small mound where the tooth was? If so, do the upper and lower "lumps" touch or meet each other when you are closed? If they do they could be causing pressure on your lower jaw. I am also wondering about your condyles - they allow the lower jaw to move freely - so you would need to have that checked out by a specialist and get some xrays, or MRI, etc. of those. Just some thoughts.
Jammix
08-31-2006, 01:43 PM
Hi. I have had my condyles clinically examined and x-rayed and they seem to be in good shape. My wisdom teeth were not truly a part of my bite before the procedure. They were just breaking through at the time. The bone and tissue where they were, however, does seem like it might be meeting. When I put my finger behind my last two teeth, and bite down, there is a lot of force on it and it seems to exacerbate my condition. If I put the thin handle of a spoon there, it seems like it is able to fit there when I bite, without biting down on it, but the area is indeed rather tender. Might it possibly help to get some of the bone behind my last molars removed?
Jammix
08-31-2006, 05:50 PM
I guess my muscles are in spasm. But how to stop that cycle?
Thelma-Louise
08-31-2006, 10:53 PM
I have tried so many things to stop my tmj pain and one of them was to have those lumps where my wisdom teeth were scaled down by an oral surgeon since they were slightly touching when I closed. Although it required novacaine and dissolvable stiches - it reaaly didn't hurt at all. Unfortunately that really was not the root cause of my muscular problem. You could see an OS who specializes in tmj about it and see what he thinks. Generally to stop muscle spasm cycles, either splints, NTIs, trigger point injections, oral muscle relaxants (meds), warm moist compresses and the tens unit are first tried. Some people find relief from accupuncture or PT or laser light therapy or ultra sound therapy. I'm thinking of trying botox injections in the near future.
Jammix
09-02-2006, 08:22 PM
I think my bite is compelling my jaw muscles to take a straining posture. The muscles are being activated in a stressful way that makes them fatigued and sore.
When I let things completely relax, only my lower incisors touch when I bring my jaws together. They hit on the upper incisors in a way opposite to a deep bite. They hit very soon, and no other teeth make contact.
I have an appointment with a neuromuscular dentist to go through with bite therapy. However, it is not for a while. I am able to get a quick appointment to have an NTI made. Do you think it might offer me some relief in the meantime? How quickly does the NTI begin to worsen the occlusion by creating an open bite? Since only my fronts are touching, would the NTI's propensity to create an open bite actually be beneficial in my case? Even if not, would neuromuscular treatment readily correct any changes induced by the NTI, or might it further complicate things?
When I let things completely relax, only my lower incisors touch when I bring my jaws together. They hit on the upper incisors in a way opposite to a deep bite. They hit very soon, and no other teeth make contact.
I have an appointment with a neuromuscular dentist to go through with bite therapy. However, it is not for a while. I am able to get a quick appointment to have an NTI made. Do you think it might offer me some relief in the meantime? How quickly does the NTI begin to worsen the occlusion by creating an open bite? Since only my fronts are touching, would the NTI's propensity to create an open bite actually be beneficial in my case? Even if not, would neuromuscular treatment readily correct any changes induced by the NTI, or might it further complicate things?
Thelma-Louise
09-02-2006, 10:42 PM
Although I never tried the NTI several prior posts suggest it takes continuous wearing over many, many months, perhaps even longer before your bite would change to an open bite. Some posts even suggested that wearing the NTI up to 3 times a week deter the bite from changing at all. Since I never tried one, I am not sure how much relief it will provide but based on prior psots it does help many - does it take long to have one made? Would you be able to get it much sooner than your appt? What about cost?
Jammix
09-03-2006, 02:07 AM
An NTI is made in a 20 minute appointmenet for $250. The office already has them and the dentist simply adjusts one to the patient.
I think if I would always bite in what is natural, with only my incisors quickly meeting each other, then my jaw fatigue/soreness/pain would go away. It is that in order to get a more complete bite my jaw muscles have to be manipulated. I mean if after I bite naturally I let my lower incisors slide up the backs of the upper incisors to actually bite down (as chewing), the mandible is pushed back against its will and strained.
When I look at pictures of the NTI in people's mouths, I see the lower incisors almost directly below the uppers. It seems the NTI might signficantly help ensure the relaxed comfort of my jaw muscles until I proceed with neuromuscular therapy.
I think if I would always bite in what is natural, with only my incisors quickly meeting each other, then my jaw fatigue/soreness/pain would go away. It is that in order to get a more complete bite my jaw muscles have to be manipulated. I mean if after I bite naturally I let my lower incisors slide up the backs of the upper incisors to actually bite down (as chewing), the mandible is pushed back against its will and strained.
When I look at pictures of the NTI in people's mouths, I see the lower incisors almost directly below the uppers. It seems the NTI might signficantly help ensure the relaxed comfort of my jaw muscles until I proceed with neuromuscular therapy.