Repositioning Splints...... - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

CherylLynn24 · 10-15-2003, 11:59 PM

Hi,

I have a question that might sound silly. My Son has had several tests including an MRI and tomogram of the joints. (they all came out fine) His problem seems to be muscular in nature. Now, his current Neuromuscular dentist made him a repositioning splint that he's been wearing for about a month and a half. I guess what I'm wondering is, if your joints are in the right position, then why wear a repositioning splint?? I've noticed that others on the board have had tomograms and MRI's that have shown their problems to be muscular also....but still wear repositioning splints.....???
Cheryl

saaraah · 10-16-2003, 06:23 AM

do you have copies of the mri or tomograms?

maybe the condyles, themselves, are fine - they dont have any articular changes [arthritis or osteophytes].

*but* maybe the condyle is still too far back in relation to the fossa. if you do have copies of the xrays, it's pretty easy to see for yourself if that's the problem.

- saaraah.

DianeTMJ · 10-16-2003, 07:40 AM

Good morning Cheryl-
Cheryl, I know in my case, that the first splint I was put in was to stablize me. He really built up my splint to give my muscles the room to stretch, remember my opening was like 19mm, I am now up to 31mm, which I am thrilled with. But of course, as we all know my problems are not just muscular, I have some skeletal (sp) issues that helped bring on my TMJD as well.
Now, I do not know if that information helped at all, but I think the idea, especially for your son is to first get him stablized, it is not about repositioning him at all, it is about getting him out of pain and THEN working on correction through braces, palate expander. I do not think that a repo splint is in his future, I think it is about a stablizing one, then into correcting his problems.

Big hugs
Diane

CherylLynn24 · 10-16-2003, 09:21 AM

Thank you both for responding.

Saaraah,

I did have copies of these, unfortunately they were mailed out recently. Once I get them back, I'll have to take a look at them.

Diane,

Do these tests mean that he shouldn't even be wearing a repositioning splint right now? He wore his splint for part of the tomograms. I just don't understand.

I hope that you both have a good day.
Take Care,
Cheryl

DianeTMJ · 10-16-2003, 09:42 AM

Good morning Cheryl-
Oh no, my thought is that since his condoyles are showing to be healthy and for the most part in a good position, that most likely what Mike needs is not repos splint but a stablizing one, that allows the muscle to stretch out, giving them more room to heal. I would not stop the repos splint unless his dentist says to. But I think the approach to Mike's treatment needs to change, you know the focus. It was being assumed that his joints were out of wack, but now the tomograms show other wise. It sounds like to me that the focus change is from repositioning the jaw to stablizing the muscles so that the next steps can take place.

Okay, my condoyles are flattened, displaced disc and derangement. But my muscles were so so bad, before my dentist could even think about repositioning my jaw, he had to first focus on me getting out pain, so he made me a stablizing splint that really opened my bite, gave my muscles happy space to stretch. Once I was symptom free... excluding the brain fog/exhaustion, then he put me in a repos. splint, that brings my jaw forward about 4mm.
It sounds like Mike only needs the stablizing then move forward with the braces and or palate expander.
Why use a repositional splint when the joints are healthy. Now, I do not know about the forward movement??? is that muscle related? did your dentist say?
Hugs Cheryl
Diane