smoothee
01-28-2007, 06:59 AM
Hi am a seventeen year old runner, who I guess has had this problem since about mid-august. It started with the left side of my mouth being locked up one day and eventually when I opened my mouth big enough, it popped. Then about a month ago, it started on my right side as well. Then I guess this morning I woke up and both sides were locked up at the same time until I opened my mouth large enough and both sides popped. I have to keep my teeth clenched now because when I try to close them now, both sides get locked up. My mom called a specialists, but he is probably just going to recommend braces. Can you tell me what is exactly is going on? and what alterantives there are? Thanks
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smoothee
01-28-2007, 07:02 AM
Also another thing, the problem has never actually caused pain, it is just really annoying.
GoodThings
01-29-2007, 09:58 PM
Hello,
My opinion is that you shouldn't go straight to braces. Try a splint like the MORA or the Gelb. IMO, your jaw is just slightly off. Not back far enough to cause pain or muscle problems. So try a splint and move the jaw just slightly down and forward so you don't get locked up. The reason you lock up is because the disc is preventing your condyle from opening. Meaning that your condyle has to be up and back of the fossa. So you need to bring the condyle down and forward so the disc will sit nicely on top of it. DO NOT go straight into braces. It will most likely not help and can make you worse.
GT
My opinion is that you shouldn't go straight to braces. Try a splint like the MORA or the Gelb. IMO, your jaw is just slightly off. Not back far enough to cause pain or muscle problems. So try a splint and move the jaw just slightly down and forward so you don't get locked up. The reason you lock up is because the disc is preventing your condyle from opening. Meaning that your condyle has to be up and back of the fossa. So you need to bring the condyle down and forward so the disc will sit nicely on top of it. DO NOT go straight into braces. It will most likely not help and can make you worse.
GT
smoothee
07-01-2007, 04:03 PM
Hi just reporting back after 6 months or so. Well back in early march, I got a splint that I was told to wear at night. It did not improve my tmj problem, but it pretty much stopped the locking at night. Well now it seems that it is losing its powers as now I am waking up with this lock that I have to open my mouth to make it pop. There is still no pain when I pop it, but it is incredibly annoying. So the dentist said he could do an operation in which he would run water through my jaw. I am not quite sure it all works, but he said it might help. I don't know what else to do. It is going to cost around $1600, and my parents insurance does not cover it. So if anyone knows of anything else I would appreciate it.
smoothee
07-08-2007, 09:58 PM
Hey, I am just going to bump this thread to hopefully get a response.
luvtocamp
07-09-2007, 08:43 AM
Gee what is the name of the operation? What type of specialist are you seeing? Have you gotten a second opinion?
Thelma-Louise
07-09-2007, 11:03 AM
I have never heard of this type of operation or procedure so maybe find out what it is called so others may be able to respond. How do they run water through the jaw and what purpose would it serve? unless he is talking about injectiog something into the joints to flush them - I think this may be done on knee and shoulder joints as well. But then that would imply there is a problem with cartilidge surrounding the joint. If the splint initially helped I doubt this is the answer - refer back to GT's response - it has to do with your jaw position. I would go see another specialist and try other treatments - the fact that the splint initally worked but stopped doing its job is b/c your jaw changed position - so it should have been adjusted or a new one made. Sounds like you need to see a specialist.