I've been wearing a lower bite splint for 6 months. I wore the splint 24/7 except when eating. My TMJ dentist (at that time) said that it's ok to take it out when eating because research has shown that the teeth don't actually touch during chewing. For the first 5 months I saw only minimal and mixed results (less tension in temples, but more crepitus, etc.) Then I started to see other TMJ dentists for second opinions. I saw one TMJ dentist who asked if I wear the splint while eating. I said 'no'. He said that it's critical to wear the splint while eating and said that for every meal you eat w/o the splint you set your recovery back 8 hours. At 3 meals per day that would mean no progress at all!

Anyhow I've been wearing the splint that while eating for the last month or so and I've seen more improvement than in the first 5 months. I still have plenty of symptoms, but they are less frequent and less intense. I have switched treatment to this TMJ dentist and hope that his treatment protocol (new softer upper night time and lower day time splint, trigger point injections) will continue to help me.

If you don't do it already, please wear your splint while you eat!