My consult with the Osteopath - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

luvtocamp · 08-14-2006, 02:41 PM

She felt it was in my head bones which are real tight and there is no movement and that my facial bones are unequal in height which she feels is from the dental occlusion. She asssessed me without my denture, with my deture in , and then with my splint in. She said not to wear the splint and she feels like the dentures have too much verticle height and that one side of the denture is higher. I know the bite on the side of the denture is high.

In the meantime I am to take my denture out at night, and next Mom she is going to work with my head muscles and the inside of my mouth. Then on my next visit she is going to do the same but with the denture out and I'm not to wear my denture for a day and see if it feels better.

She does not feel my tmj's are too far posterior to be causing the ear problems, that she feels it is from mild intercranial pressure causing the ear pain and humming, and also my muscles are real unhappy with the imbalance of my face.

She said a lot of dentist like to add verticle height which is fine, that most people will adapt but some won't, and most dentist do what they want and thats to put big beautiful smiles on people.

So I guess I have to wait till next Mom to find out more. I guess I just wasted $650 on a splint, but I guess one needs to go throught the process of elimination before getting better.

Thelma-Louise · 08-15-2006, 02:31 PM

Her assessment sounds correct - the things you mention seem like they could apply to me however I feel like I have lost vertical height on top and that is what is causing the cranial pressure as well as sleep apnea since for some reason my tongue now blocks my throat if I lie on my back. I have the same problem with one side feeling higher than the other and my face and jaw feeling unbalanced. I never knew something like this could ever happen to anyone. Since I wear the snap on over dentures - I keep them off now (but I am still not working and don't go out often) but it really hasn't helped with the pain and other symptoms at all. I feel just as unbalanced without them as well. I agree with the statement that most drs want to give you a big smile - its easier for them to work with and it demonstrates you got your money's worth. I just spent $1800 for the 2 splints that won't be ready until Sept! In the meantime though I also have an appt at the end of August with a dr at Columbia University who is a cranio-facial expert and a neuro and is head of some dept there - I think I am developing some nerve damage in the neck area since the numbness and tingling sensations have started to become chronic.

After she works with you - will she then speak with your dentist - how does this get resolved? How will they determine the correct vertical height for both sides for you? Will they then adjust your splint?

The new dentist I am with measured me differently than any other drs I have been to - instead of using a bite plane that sits on your nose and ears he stuck a funny looking ruler inside my mouth and measured the distance between the upper and lower jaw bones at an open and resting position for both sides - he also measured the length or depth of my upper lip from the nose down and lower lip down to the chin. I kind of feel like this may be a waste as well but I won't know unless I try it. How did you find this osteopath?

luvtocamp · 08-15-2006, 02:51 PM

TL- Oh you have implants and a snap in top denture then.

My new tmj dentist has osteopathic training at the local DO college and he referred me to her. Some things you said make sense, that too low a verticle could cause cranial pressure. I just don't know anymore. She said the splint makes my bite too high and she thinks my bite is too high already so no more splint I guess. At rest my teeth rest on each other and its a chore to keep them apart.
I guess she'll work with the dentist that referred me.
I sure hope your splints work for the money your paying. This is all so much trial and error. If I remember right yours is muscular like mine.
My dentist didn't measure me at all so I think thats a good sign yours did. I hope you wont need a new denture because the snap on ones are expensive aren't they.
Sometimes I think my SCM muscle is causing a lot of this too as it tightens up, but then what is causing it to tighten up? Who knows.
The Osteopath I'm seeing now can hopefully find the cause. I'm getting really tired of all this stuff as I bet you are too.

I'm really anxious to hear what your Osteopath has to say when you go. I'm curious if she tells you you have tight head bones too and why she thinks that is. Sooner or later we have to figure this out so we can get on with our lifes.

Thelma-Louise · 08-15-2006, 11:18 PM

I had implants in the front upper and lower but had them removed a couple of months ago hoping it would ease some of the facial pain I have which it didn't of course. It was just as expensive as when they put them in 15 years ago. Now I have no front teeth and my back teeth are prepped for crowns - hence the over denture. But I have one side that touches - with or without the dentures - and one side that does not - which I believe is the real problem. I have no clue how that even happened. But my jaw also pulls to the left side so maybe that is why one side can not touch together - I don't know anymore and neither does anyone I go to. Its a mess. To be honest I kind of wish it was a deviated disc or joint problem that could be visible on a x-ray - I know they can also be a problem to fix or treat but at least you know what the problem is. With muscular its kind of like a guessing game.

luvtocamp · 08-16-2006, 06:44 AM

TL- Oh thats what you mean by an overdenture. Actually I think implants have come down in price since everybody seems to be getting them now.

My tmj dentist gave me an excellant prognosis since my Mri was pretty much WNL , but afer the splint didn't work , he sent me to the osteopath to determine what the problem is, so its either the wrong verticle, neck muscles, head bones or cervical.

I'm glad your seeing an osteopath too as we can compare notes as yours sounds highly trained.

I think our muscles may be tighter on one side and thats why the bite is off.

I hope we find the cure soon.