I have been seeing and othro. that has me coming in every month for adjustments. Not exactly sure what the adjustments are doing, except flatening the splint. This is causing more teeth to hit, instead of two points, one on each side.
When I first got fitted with the splint, it was bigger and kept my mouth open wider than it is now. I like it because it doesn't look as bad in my mouth, but I feel that it might have worked better earlier on in treatment.
Has anybody else felt this way..any input???
Also, I would like to get a second opinion on treatment, as surgery to move my upper jaw up and out is planned after some braces.
The doctor I am seeing is St. Louis, MO..Dr. Moshiri.
Thanks
Chad
ps..I hate living like this
Last edited by Well-come; 05-16-2004 at 08:16 PM.
Reason: Removed email address.
Chad,
I am not sure at all about the splint being adjusted only once a month. Did you do that even in the beginning? I just picked up my 4th splint on Monday and I have been in every day to get it adjusted. The plan is to work up to only twice a week and then once a week and then hopefully monthly and so on, is that the way you did it?
It seems to me that the surgery you are talking about is NOT something that would be a good idea. From my experience and most others on this board, surgery is the absolute LAST resort to be used and even then you would have to be very bad off to consider surgery. Do yourself a favor, get a second or even third opinion. Don't go that route.
I have been seeing and othro. that has me coming in every month for adjustments. Not exactly sure what the adjustments are doing, except flatening the splint. This is causing more teeth to hit, instead of two points, one on each side.
When I first got fitted with the splint, it was bigger and kept my mouth open wider than it is now. I like it because it doesn't look as bad in my mouth, but I feel that it might have worked better earlier on in treatment.
Has anybody else felt this way..any input???
Also, I would like to get a second opinion on treatment, as surgery to move my upper jaw up and out is planned after some braces.
The doctor I am seeing is St. Louis, MO..Dr. Moshiri.
Thanks
Chad
ps..I hate living like this
Hi Chad:
I would definately suggest you get a second opinion. Surgery on TMJ is never a good idea and should never be considered except as a last resort. In fact, it might be wise to get several opinions.
Tiffany
Last edited by Well-come; 05-16-2004 at 08:17 PM.
Reason: Removed email address in Chad's quote.
Splint- The Ortho has been adjusting me once a month since the beginning. Most all my pain is on my right side. It feels as though all force and pressure is on this side.
Surgery- Oral Surgeons and a few orthodontist say I have an underdeveloped upper jaw in relation to lower. This causing and under/open bite. I went to an ortho for 3 years and still have pain. Oral surgeon basically said " I told you so". He still feels Surgery is only option. This is to move my upper jaw up and out. Not a TMJ surgery on the joint.
This needs to be resolved. I can't move on to a normal life untill it is taken care of. I graduated from college over a year ago, but have yet to get a REAL job do to the pain.
Any recommendations on specialist around Missouri.
If it would be worth it, I would save money to take a flight somewhere..Mayo Clinic??
Thanks in advance..nice to find a board were people understand and don't think you are just crabby!
Quote: Surgery- Oral Surgeons and a few orthodontist say I have an underdeveloped upper jaw in relation to lower. This causing and under/open bite. I went to an ortho for 3 years and still have pain. Oral surgeon basically said " I told you so". He still feels Surgery is only option. This is to move my upper jaw up and out. Not a TMJ surgery on the joint.
This needs to be resolved. I can't move on to a normal life untill it is taken care of. I graduated from college over a year ago, but have yet to get a REAL job do to the pain. (End of Quote)
You should do some research on the board concerning this type of surgery. Most have come out far worse and you don't think you have a normal life now. Can you imagine what it would be like constantly feeling worse? Read and research before consenting to surgery........
Cheryl
Last edited by CherylLynn24; 05-16-2004 at 01:11 AM.
Chad,
I understand you having to resolve your pain so you can move on with life. In fact, we are all there or have all been there. Twice in the 10 years I have had this condition, I have actually been to the point I couldn't get out of bed anymore, but I have always been turned around with splint therapy. LIke I have said the key to splint therapy is a VERY knowledgeable dentist and a properly fitting splint. I can tell you from 4 splints and LOADS of time wearing one 24/7 for all those years, that once a month adjustments aren't going to cut it. When your muscles and ligaments are all out of sorts from a bad bite or for whatever reason, your bite can change daily. You should be getting adjustments several times a week while you are in a flare up.
As far as surgery goes, PLEASE do some research and find out how these surgeries turn out. I can't think of one person who has been happy and returned on to a normal life after surgery. Usually they wish they would have just lived with the pain they had prior to surgery instead of getting themselves in so deep that they are about disabled. I think you are WAY TO YOUNG to do this to yourself and a GOOD oral surgeon would know that. Go get LOTS of opinions, even if you have to pay for it out of pocket, it is well worth it, you are talking about altering your life with the surgery decision.
Best of luck to you,
Karen
Anyway, could some doctors be recommended that I can see for consultations to help me with my decision? I really do not want to have the surgery, but the ortho I am currently seeing is planning on having me setup for it after splint therapy is done. Also I am not as confident in his therapy as I was a few weeks ago.
This is what he does. I come in once a month for adjustment. He is basically trying to grind on the splint to have to spots hitting on each side. If it hits in more than one spot, he grinds the spot down. It has been doing better until this last adjustment and there is alot more pain on the right side, where most of the pain has been.
Like I said before..I really can't find any "wellknown" tmj specialist in my area, St. Louis, MO, any recommendations will be more than helpfull.
Chad,
You don't have to go to a so called "specialist" for an opinion or to be treated for that matter. Just call around and find some dentists in your area that treat tmj. They can give you an opinion and also maybe help you out with these adjustments you need. I cannot understand the once a month adjutment for the life of me.
Karen
Chad, I had a friend look into the Mitchell doctors in Missouri. He said it looks like they know what they are talking about, but he doesn't know anything about them and can't vouch for how good they are. They are neuromuscular dentists though. Good luck, I just went through the dentist search. It's really frustrating, but nice once you finally find someone.
Before you book an appt with a neuromuscular dentist, you might want to search the board. There are a number of people here, myself included, who've seen neuro dentists - with very poor result. So, if that's what you're considering, be sure to ask lots of questions, find out how long they've been practicing, how many patients they've treated with this method, ask to speak to some of their patients, etc.
I get a adjustment once a month in fact i just got one today. It does not look like they are doing much but they are doing a lot. The splint is adjusting your jaw which in return changes the way you bite and if you do not get adjustments that reflect your new bite you can can continue in the future to have more pain and do more damage to your jaw. Your jaw is off which throws off the joints not to mention everything else and while you are moving your jaw to allow the joints to work right you must also change everything to match the change
i see a TMJ specialist who is so go that he can ask me where my pain is and them point to my mouthguard and tell me where it probably needs adjusting and them when he tests he is usually right. This is not to say i am instantly pain free or pain free from there on i have my up and down days but i am hoping that with time that to will get better i guess we just have to wait and see but i feel better then i did before i knew that i had the TMJ
I had the surgery you're talking about -- orthognathic. I do NOT recommend it. I've had much worse TMJ problems after the surgery than before. I also had an open bite with a misaligned jaw only hitting on one side. Weigh the pros and cons of it, because it's not something to be taken lightly... in my opinion, at least.
6months into lower splint treatment.... 
Re: 6months into lower splint treatment.... 
