Splint not working - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

hobbitcutie · 12-14-2004, 01:17 PM

Hi, it's been a really long time since i posted, but after yesterday i just had to post! I've been wearing my acrylic splint for about 5 months now, and have steadily degraded (yes, i mean it's gotten worse) for about the past 3 months. When i got the splint, i could barely eat because it hurt to chew, and I was having extreme difficulties singing, which is a problem as i am a Music major, with voice as my instrument.

Anyway, the splint helped for a while, but yesterday hit a new low in joint function for me. My jaw had previously never locked, but i woke up and could not even open my mouth enough to fit 2 fingers in sideways. I had an appointment that morning anyway, and the doctor was able to get my jaw unlocked, but now he's saying i'll have to get a different splint, one that will move my jaw forward, requiring braces eventually. I'm beginning to think that this entire big mess will never get sorted out, and my jaw will always bother me. I'm only 18 years old! I've been told many times in my music studies that i have enourmous potential, but if my jaw keeps screwing up like this, i don't know if i'll be able to live up to that potential!

Has anyone else had these sorts of problems with the acrylic splint? I'm so lost with all of this stuff!

westin4 · 12-15-2004, 07:42 PM

I agree with Amy. As someone who has 6 splints in the last 8 years, I am not going to vouch for any of them. I can tell you this........some of them have given me tremendous relief, but, it is usually only temporary. Now, here is the clincher.......my dentist told me that with muscular tmj, it is just about impossible to make a splint and have it fix all of your problems because your muscles will deviate and then in turn if you have a splint that has caused your teeth to get comfortable in a position and they shift.......you are back to square one. This is my dentist's approach.........( he is one that I do trust ) He will make me a splint based on how I am doing.......if, and it usually happens......I reach a point where that one isn't working he will make me a different kind. Now, he is also writing off what my insurance will not cover so that is what makes this method possible. When he knew all the $$$$$ and time and lost years I had put into finding some help he just didn't even care about the money.

I hope you can find some answers. I think though that there is no tried and true splint.

Karen

oldpal · 12-16-2004, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by angel47630

I agree with Amy. As someone who has 6 splints in the last 8 years, I am not going to vouch for any of them. I can tell you this........some of them have given me tremendous relief, but, it is usually only temporary. Now, here is the clincher.......my dentist told me that with muscular tmj, it is just about impossible to make a splint and have it fix all of your problems because your muscles will deviate and then in turn if you have a splint that has caused your teeth to get comfortable in a position and they shift.......you are back to square one. This is my dentist's approach.........( he is one that I do trust ) He will make me a splint based on how I am doing.......if, and it usually happens......I reach a point where that one isn't working he will make me a different kind. Now, he is also writing off what my insurance will not cover so that is what makes this method possible. When he knew all the $$$$$ and time and lost years I had put into finding some help he just didn't even care about the money.

I hope you can find some answers. I think though that there is no tried and true splint.

Karen

Hello Karen,
How can the muscles deviate when they're at rest and with a splint that will keep them at rest?

oldpal

oldpal · 12-16-2004, 01:33 AM

Hello hobbit,
I'm sorry that you're going thru this. But if your splint was ok 5 months and assuming no adjustments were made, why couldn't you open your mouth now? Even if the splint does not pull your jaw down and forward, it should give you some space between the upper and lower teeth. I really don't know why it's causing your jaw to suddenly lock when it didn't before.

oldpal

westin4 · 12-16-2004, 08:42 AM

hobbit,

I think most of us will tell you that we have had great relief from a splint, but, it is usually temporary. One thing I noticed is that you said that you have degraded over the last 5 months. What I am wondering is, maybe you are not in the correct splint or perhaps it doesn't fit right? Is your tmj muscular in nature?

As it was explained to me: I have had this so long it has become chronic and therefore my muscles are programmed to be in spasm. Even though I get into a comfortable position with everything, they have been this way for 14 years, they have to almost be deprogrammed. How long have you had tmj, hobbit? I do remember you from a while back, but I do forget the details of your history.

I hope you find some answers. Maybe even a different dentist. There are so many what if's with this.

Take care and keep us updated,
Karen