Hi all! It's been awhile since I last posted...things have kinda went from bad to worse around here...but I'm trying to cope! I saw the tmj dentist and had xrays taken...he was amazed at how small my mouth opening was and said I might be getting some arthritis in my joints there...also said there was alot of wear on joints! I had a niteguard made ($160 very reasonable!)but couldn't get to his office to get it till that Friday and he was off on vacation till Sept.9 by then! So I have been counting down the days, taking my pain medication (vicoprophen...couldn't afford the darn vioxx, but the pharmisist said to just take more ibuprophen!)but as of today I only have enough left to last until tomorrow...and I have alot going on this wknd...would be WONDERFUL to be able to function without pain! I called my family dentist but he would not call me in a refill (I just don't think dentists understand PAIN!)so...I just called my family doctor so we shall see if I get any help from him...God, I hope so! I am concerned that they won't give me the pain medication until my splint hopefully starts working which the dentist said should be 2-4 wks...I know I will gradually have to reduce my intake as I am sure my body has become accustomed to taking it...but if the splint actually works, then I think I will be OK!
Has anyone here had any luck with the niteguard type of splint? If so, how long before relief starts? Did you have to remain on any sort of medication afterward and what kind? (my medical expenses are eating up our bank account!) Also, the dentist recommended ICE instead of HEAT, but the ice just seems to make it ache worse...confusing! He also said that if the splint did not work, I was a good candidate for surgery...THAT scared me! Hopefully, I can be patient (and calm!And PAIN FREE))until I get the splint and give it a try! Well, TC all!
I think that a nightguard can be helpful IF it's made properly. Mine is constructed so that my lower jaw is brought slightly forward and only my front teeth touch, which reduces clenching during the night. Some night guards can actually make matters worse because they give us something to clench on.
I don't know what your specific diagnosis is, but I would assume that your next step would be a lower repositioning splint, NOT surgery. From my experience, my nightguard is used in conjunction with a daytime lower splint. But all cases are different.
Thanks Crystal! Gosh, I sure hope my niteguard was made properly! With this bad luck of mine lately...well, I won't even think about it!(LOL!) I think the dentist did say that I might have to go to the splint you mentioned if the niteguard doesn't help! It was alot more expensive, though! TC!
Hi:
The one problem with so many dentists/orthodontists is that they seem to be so excited about surgery. It seems if they can't find an easy answer after very little work they are in a big hurry to rush their patients into surgery. I have had several dentists suggest surgery and I have flat out refused. I know there is help out there without surgery and many of the members on this board are good examples of why surgery should be avoided. Please try everything else before even considering surgery. So many have ended up in much worse shape after surgery than they were in before having surgery.
Tiffany
Thank you Tiffany! I have read up on the surgery and that is why when it was mentioned I said "NO WAY!"!!! I really could use that splint of mine right now as this has been a hectic day and I still can't get to sleep! (It is setting somewhere in the dentists office right now while he is living it up at the beach! LOL!) One good thing though, my family doctor did call me in a refill of pain medication so at least I'm not in much pain! Just to point out how my luck has been going lately...I asked for Vicoprophen because the dentist said it was better on my system...and the family doctor called in Vicoden!!! I guess I shouldn't complain, but JEEZ...sometimes I feel like no one is REALLY listening!
Oh, BTW...does anyone know why the dentist would have told me not to use moist heat? He said only to use COLD...I can't take that...it just makes me clench more! HELP!
I have a hard time understanding that as well. I once had a chiropractor tell me to use ice, and it was extremely uncomfortable. According to my specialist, ice should be used to reduce swelling after an initial injury, and moist heat should be used to reduce inflamation for a chronic problem. Moist heat helps to bring blood flow to the affected area.
My baadd luck! 
