Question about transitional splints - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

Princessawa23 · 12-12-2004, 08:27 PM

Hello. It's been a little while since I posted last. My pain and dizziness etc, has been almost nonexistant for about the last 2 months. I can only chalk it up to time and patience and God and maybe all that praying actually helped. Maybe mother nature took over after 7 months of agony. Some people say the body will do it's best to just naturally heal itself. My doctor says my relief is due to the fact that he fixed my cavities and in doing so my bite changed because the surface of my teeth changed. However, I noticed myself slowly starting to feel better a month before the procedure. Whatever. The thing is, I am now wearing a splint and wondering if I made the right decision. They say I will have to wear it for 4 to 6 months and then wear braces for a year or so. I am DREADING this. I had to go through with it (got my splint 5 days ago) because I already paid the doctor 3 months ago. $26,000! I had to call my father who took $10,000 out of my college fund and I am financing the $16,000 which will take me 5 years to get paid off. They do not accept any insurance, but give you many payment plan options. The neuromuscular dentist I see is suppossed to be the best and they say he can help me. Why don't I believe them? Perhaps I have heard too many stories of these splints being unsuccessful. I am finding it very hard to talk without a lisp, to eat, and they want me to wear it 24/7. The other reason I went through with it is after all, I am not 100%. (But maybe I should count my blessings?) My neck still hurts a little and I still get the occasional headache and stiff feeling in my face muscles. No more extreme dizziness, thank god. That just seemed to gradually cease as well. My doctor said though, that my scan is still showing deviation and the MRI I took in August was not good at all. I was scared that it is possible that even though I am feeling alright now, it could all come back if I hadn't gone through with the treatment. Everyone is telling me I am doing the right thing. Even as I type I am feeling temple stiffness and neck pain, but I am analyzing to death whether or not it is just me and my TMJ that I am feeling, or is this splint doing something negative to me!! I have heard many people write that splints can do damage! They don't want me to come back for more tests untill I have worn it for a month. What I have is a transitional splint, or Myotronic splint, and finally....my question. Can anyone write a testimonial for me on this type of splint or their experience with a neuromuscular dentist? I need to find a way to accept this treatment and be positive about it and calm my worries and fears about going back to the way I was. I want to BELIEVE that this is the end of it. Any comments would be appreciated. And Happy Holidays! ---Sarah

westin4 · 12-12-2004, 10:41 PM

Sarah,

First let me say I am so glad you are better! Wow, what a relief it must be to be rid of that ugly dizziness. That is one of my worst symptoms. I have suffered extreme dizziness. Do you get a "unreal" feeling with it??

I can tell you this much regarding splints. I am on my 6th one in 8 years. Let me tell you they can be a blessing or they can be a nightmare. If you were feeling good before the splint and since you have gotten it you are noticing unpleasant symptoms, than maybe the splint isn't fitted right. Don't think it is your imagination, it might really be new symptoms emerging if it doesn't fit right. i have had them where they have set me back 100 paces! I have also had them do me a world of good. I am not an expert on all the technical name for the way each splint works, but I have had full, acrylic splints, soft, rubbery splints, and I have 2 "half" splints (they just cover my back molars ). I have to say that the last 3 have all given me some good days, but as a whole the solid, full, acrylic splint does the trick mostly.

Can you tell me a little more about your tmj history.......treatments and symptoms?

Karen

oldpal · 12-12-2004, 11:25 PM

Hello Sarah,
Basically, neuromuscular dentists will first do TENS, it is a diagnostic tool, which will relax your muscles. Therefore, your muscles will be at rest. Then they put crowns to support that position.

Who is your dentist, may i ask?

oldpal

westin4 · 12-13-2004, 08:06 AM

Sarah,
Of course I have no way of knowing you personally so I don't want to speak out of turn, but honestly, I don't think anything altering your bite, i.e. braces or crowns is the answer at all. I know people go this route and I am hoping that some from this board who have will tell your their financial misfortunes with the whole experience.

In fact, I had asked my dentist about braces, if they would help and he told me NO WAY. He advised me that just the act of putting the braces would compound tmj tremendously and that alot of times people with braces end up developing tmj.

Just really think this through, I am concerned you are going to get into a trap you cannot get out of looking for a "cure." I understand that, I think we are all capable of making that mistake.

Take care Sarah, and please keep us posted on your condition.

Karen

Princessawa23 · 12-21-2004, 11:09 PM

UGH! I am so mad...I just wrote the longest response ever and it just got erased! So here's the short version. Angel, my dizziness was a lot like being stoned. I felt spacey all the time...very hard to describe. Doctors INSISTED it was due to anxiety. Oldpal, I am currently seeing Dr. Stephen E. Burch. (I hope this is allowed.) I have done the tens thing about 4 times now. I'm just gonna wait and see what happenes. If they say I still need to go through with this I must ..right? I can't wait to take new tests to see what it shows. I wish everyone well and happy holidays. Everyone is in my prayers. I hope you all feel better.