Deviated Bite--Chicken or Egg??? - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

sparkadoodle · 12-05-2007, 10:48 AM

Hi,

For those of you who have laterally deviated bites do you know if your bite deviations were the CAUSE or the RESULT of a displaced disc??

Thanks!

pipdog · 12-14-2007, 12:57 AM

This is a tough one. I understand discs normally displace as the bite goes off. The whole concept of splints is to even out the bite so that both jaw joints are equally loaded. When this happens then the disc will be able to move back to where it should be, on top of the condyle.
This is how my dentist explains it anyway.

But its also conceivable that if you clench and grind the resulting facial muscle tension could pull the disc out of position.

I sound like Rumsfeld and his 'known unknowns' sorry

sparkadoodle · 12-14-2007, 09:37 AM

Pipdog-

Ha!

I'm impressed (sorry?) that you can quote Rumsfield, being that you don't live in the U.S.

Thanks for your reply. I'm convinced that years of muscle clenching in my neck and shoulder muscles due to a different chronic medical problem contributed to--and probably even caused--my TMJ issues. I recently had a consult with an oral surgeon who seems excellent, and he has put me on a muscle relaxant and an anti-inflammatory. I am trying so hard not to get my hopes up that this will help both problems!