Saaraah - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

Literati · 09-22-2003, 01:37 PM

Hi, just wondering how you were doing seeing how we have similar backgrounds, i.e. university students with TMJ.

What is your current therapy, e.g. splint? Has your orthodontists/tmj specialists offered any advice to fix your open bite from your NTI?

Hope classes are going well. Take care.

saaraah · 09-23-2003, 06:25 AM

im seeing a dentist that a couple of people here have seen [dr. rondeau].. ive just started seeing him - i had a consult and diagnostic testing. tomorrow i have another appointment and he's going to tell me what type of treatment options i have and the results from my xrays.

im nervous.. very nervous. hehe. after that, i imagine i'll be getting a splint. in the meantime, i visit my massage therapist semi-regularly and i should be seeing my osteopath... tiger balm is my friend lately.. oh man.. i love the way that stuff burns. hehe.

anyway, thanks for the message.. i wish you well, too.

- saaraah.

[This message has been edited by saaraah (edited 09-23-2003).]

Literati · 09-28-2003, 02:31 PM

Tiger balm...hmm, maybe I should give that a try.

I remember reading a post where you stated that your bite was considered difficult to align w/o orthodontics. I'm not sure if you already addressed the issue of bonding/crowns/equilibration, etc...but has that option ever been addressed? (That is, to close your open bite as well as stabilize teeth that do not touch)

The only teeth that touch are my back teeth (the very last ones). The rest are just floating in air. My ucla/tmj specialist wants to try to close my bite with equilibration and bonding the teeth that do not touch.

Gotta go study for biochem now. Argggg. Take care!

saaraah · 09-28-2003, 02:56 PM

im on the verge of a migraine, so please forgive me if my post isnt very concise. ergh.

one dental surgeon suggested orthognathic [sp?] surgery - ie, breaking my jaw and realigning my bite. i promptly refused his suggestion.

the dentist im seeing now has suggested that perhaps after i finish phase I therapy, which includes a repositioning splint, that i might consider crowns or other things to fix the openbite.

right now, im really not concerned with it.. i'd rather just focus on my pain, and get that under control. i really dont want to fool around with anything in my mouth especially if i experience some pain-relief with my splint [which is coming on wednesday].

who knows.. maybe i'll change my mind.. but as of now, im not concerned with it.

do you have an overbite, too? only my back molars touch, and i have a tiny overbite.. very tiny. off hand, im not sure how large my openbite is -- it's probably 4 mm.. i'll have to check later.

take care.. good luck with studying. you're going to do really well.

- saaraah.

[This message has been edited by saaraah (edited 09-28-2003).]

Literati · 09-28-2003, 07:07 PM

Hi Saaraah,

Yeah, my specialist told me the same thing as your current dentist, i.e. crowns/bonding/equilibration as Phase 2. Unfortunately, he hasn't done this to a patient with an open bite and is unsure whether it will be successful.

A quick way I found to measure a open bite is to slide your bottom jaw forward until it both the top and bottom teeth are aligned vertically. Then I measure with a ruler. Mine is 2-3 mm. As for the overbite, I do have one. I'm just not sure how bad it is.