Dental Implants effect on TMJ? - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

crazymomof4 · 11-16-2005, 11:26 AM

Hi!
I have had TMJ for about 15 yrs. It comes and goes, sometimes really bad, sometimes no symptoms at all. Most of my flare-ups occur after having dental procedures-- crowns, etc.

Today I had a tooth extracted. (It was cracked and kept getting abcessed.)
My dentist is trying to talk me into an implant to replace the tooth.
I've seen pictures of how the metal rod of an implant has to go into the jaw bone and it makes me cringe! I cannot see how that could NOT effect my TMJ. After all, the implant goes right into the same bone that ends in the TM joint.

When I do a search on the internet of "Dental implants, TMJ" all I get is dentist's websites who treat TMJ and do implants also.

Anyone out there have experience or info that they could share.
My other option is to get a bridge. I feel this is far less invasive but the dentist forsees problems and is really pushing the implant. He does not have TMJ and so, I feel, he does not understand my fear of waking up this "Dragon"

Thanks, in advance, for any replies!

Brocallie · 11-16-2005, 11:42 AM

I would think the implant would be far superior as the bite could be controlled much easier and better using the implant. I agree with the dentist.

Michelle W · 11-18-2005, 01:54 AM

Well, the thing is that if you grind your teeth you will need a strong implant (big rod). I have tmj and they replaced a premolar. It is the next to last tooth in the back. Okay, my bone was small, so they had to use a smaller implant. Well, with the grinding I was able to loosen the screw even though the manufacturer says this is not suppose to happen. It happened with me. This kind of stuff always happens to me. I kid you not.

You see you have that rod that goes down in the bone. That doesn't hurt when it is put in because bone doesn't have pain. Okay then they put the rod/screw donw in the bone and cap it off. It has to heal for a few months in the bone. It sort of growns into the bone and becomes strong. Then they put the temp crown on it the rod/screw for awhile to get the bone use to bearing weight, and then they put the permanent corwn on the rod. It looks just like a real tooth, because I had one for two years. It is superior to a bridge; I completely agree with your dentist on that account.

Well, grinding made my screw come loose, so my implant was loose and I broke it. I had to have it cut out, which wasn't real bad. It was a little worse than an extraction, and I had a bone graft done, so they could put a larger screw/rod in the bone, so it wouldn't come loose anymore. That is what they are promising me.

Right now I am finishing up my braces. After I get my braces finished I can get another temporary crown and start all over again.

I just thought I would give you the benefit of hearing my experience. If I break this one I will be getting a bridge.

Marylander · 11-18-2005, 07:21 AM

Hello:

Here's the bridge perspective:

I have bridges on the bottom to cover congenitally missing premolars/bicuspids. At the time I originally had them done, implants were not an option. My dentist told me for years that I ground my teeth due to the wear patterns, but I never had any bruxism/TMJ-related pain. After 18 years, one of the bridges needed replaced and the resulting change to my occlusion has put me a yearlong TMJ nightmare of trying to make my bite comfortable. I think I am finally on the right track but it has been a long struggle. My present dentist says because it has been the occlusion on four pairs of teeth (they also replaced an old crown behind the bridge) that the pain and difficulty has been quadrupled what I would have faced having just one tooth replaced. So, I agree with your dentist: change the bite on only one tooth if possible!

Marylander