allison3tkb
04-15-2008, 05:17 PM
have tmd. had a mri and it showed both left and right disc are anteriorly displaced(forward displacement)_ and the left is also laterally displaced. My tmj dds made me a night guard. I really don't know if it is helping, i don't think it is. It makes my teeth sore. The dds wants to do some adjusting to it. My cheekbones are sticking out and I think I just look weird, my temples seem to have sunk in as well. I don't want to be deformed. Has this happend to any one else? My bite still feels all off line. ALL of this happened to me because of one new filling! Is the night gurad what I need? DDs says I clench and night gurad will help? But what about my teeth not fitting properly? I believe my malocclusion and/or bad bite is causing my tmj. Some days I feel pretty good then others I feel dizzy and out of it. Do I need a splint? Do I need a neuro dentist? What is the difference between a night gurad and a splint? THANK YOU in advance for your response. NOBOBY knows what this night mare feels like except my TMJ friends!
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Danny149
04-15-2008, 07:37 PM
I know how you feel, my face has been swolen for a little over a year. My bite is completely off too. The cause is the inflamation from your TMJ. Get a splint, it will take a good solid month/two months for you to notice any difference, my advice to you is to eat soft foods (great way to lose weight) don't talk often, don't smile, DO NOT YAWN <--- IMPORTANT -- Do not sit down in a chair for more then 10 minutes at a time, that puts alot of preassure on your mustles causing stress and makes more swelling.
Do not take any over the counter inflammatory medication such as motrin ect, it does not work for swelling or pain, and will only cause you more health problems. It's not enough to see any difference. Talk to your doctor about perscribed inflammatory medication, that might help a bit.
-GET A SPLINT
Good luck to you
Ps: Wear your splint when you get it 24/7 even it hurts, you will get used to it.. (take it out when you eat/drink so you dont crush it and make it deformed)
Do not take any over the counter inflammatory medication such as motrin ect, it does not work for swelling or pain, and will only cause you more health problems. It's not enough to see any difference. Talk to your doctor about perscribed inflammatory medication, that might help a bit.
-GET A SPLINT
Good luck to you
Ps: Wear your splint when you get it 24/7 even it hurts, you will get used to it.. (take it out when you eat/drink so you dont crush it and make it deformed)
Danny149
04-15-2008, 07:43 PM
Oh, lol one more thing.. in response to your comment about no one knowing what it feel's like besides us,
TMJ is like the monster under your bed, no one ever believes you until they've slept in with you.
TMJ is like the monster under your bed, no one ever believes you until they've slept in with you.
sunflower8
04-16-2008, 09:44 AM
Wow, sounds just like me! My right disc has not recaptured in 2 years and my left disc clicks. My face and changed so much! The sides of my face are now flat, my temples are sunken in, and my face is no longer full! Its as though all the muscle have atrophy and I have lost tissue. My diet hasn’t changed....however I do not eat chewy/hard things. I wear a mouth guard at night and am able to open my mouth around 30mm. I’ve tried doing exercises to bulk up my face but nothing has worked
allison3tkb
04-16-2008, 10:19 AM
Hi Danny thanks for responding! Iam really quite scared about my face being disfigured. I actually was pretty but now I don't feel that way anymore. Did you wear a splint? I don't know if my tmj dds reccomends them. He makes this special night gaurd that he invented (he is featured in a magazine) so I am getting the impression he only treats tmj with a night gaurd. But really, how can a night gaurd get my discs back in place...not going to happen with a night gaurd. Did you have to wear braces after the splint? Another question...When i had the new filling put in it never felt right so my dds said i had a interference and drilled my top right tooth #30 ALOT to accomodate the interference. And ever since that work he did on my tooth my bite has been off. I think that maybe redoing that one filling on #30 would help? what do you think about that? Thanks!
allison3tkb
04-16-2008, 10:25 AM
Hi sunflower, did you ever wear a splint? I am wearing a night guard too. Has your tmj dds told you that your disc will ever be in place? what are your symptons with tmd? does your neck and back hurt? dizzy? All my troubles started with dental work. dds drilled too much on #30 which then set everything off. Did you go to a maxiofacial surgeon or TMJ dentist? Thanks for any information and help.
sunflower8
04-16-2008, 11:21 AM
I guess my jaw clicked for many years but I never thought anything about it....it wasn’t too loud and 80% of folks have the same problem. My initial “symptoms” started probably 4 years ago.....pressure headaches in the forehead that would come and go....and just not feeling like myself. My symptoms progressed to dizzy/off balance spells, pain behind eyes, temple pain, shooting pains in my head, creepy/crawly feeling on my face, neck/back pain....I thought I was going crazy. Never once did I think it was all due to my jaw. Back in Oct ’05, I was driving to work and did a big yawn....and my jaw got stuck! It didn’t last long but scared the heck out of me. (BTW, I think my problem was due to big yawns, excessive gum chewing, and leaning forward looking at the darn computer!) I went to my dentist and he recommended me to a TMJ specialist. He made me a night guard that fits on my lower teeth and said that it should help. My symptoms did improve but one morning I awoke not being able to fully open my mouth and my facial muscles were in constant spasm!! I then went to PT in hopes that my disc would go back into place and work on my opening.....well, my disc never recaptured but my opening did improve over time and he said that is was highly unlikely that my disc would recapture. I really can’t complain too much about my current symptom. I changed my work habits; leaning forward to look at the computer, posture, yoga, stretching, chiro (whenever my neck acts up). I guess my biggest complaint is my face changing.....I am only 30 and I am very self conscious about my face
Treyvanz
04-22-2008, 05:39 PM
Your situation sounds almost identical to me. Same symptoms. I tried the splint for about 13 months and it helped but i had major problems with it eg) breaking, cracking, adjustment issues. I then went to a night guard and it took about 1 week to adjust to that and since then i havn't had any problems. Still the clicking when you yawn and what not but i can live with that. The bonus too is its alot cheaper. My Ortho Doc wanted me to to braces after the splint therapy and i had had them a few years ago. I don't think the night guard will be a permanent fix tho. I know eventually i will probabally have to go ahead with braces but for now it works!