Bite/Jaw problems - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

clearblue · 01-10-2009, 08:06 AM

Hi! Can anyone relate to this problem... My jaw seems to be dislocated or something, but I have not had an injury... I had braces put on in 2005 and taken off in 2007, and when they came off, I felt like I couldn't just "bite" and not think about it... I kind of had to look in the mirror and make sure my midline was lined up, and then remember how that position felt so I could do it throughout the day and look right.

Well, that "sweet spot" changed regularly--even though I am very rigid with following directions, and always wore both my retainers every night like my ortho. said... My only problem was with tongue thrusting on the right side of my mouth...

Soon after getting my braces off, I went to an ear, nose, and throat doc. because of "ear" pain in my right ear, which turned out to be severe jaw pain on the right side of my face

Bottom line is, now my bite seems hard to ever line up right, smiling feels weird, and my jaw still hurts on the right side. Because I clench at night, my dentist made me a night guard that is like 1/4 in. thick in between my teeth... I don't know if that has thrown it off?

Also, when I open my mouth wide and look in the mirror, the right side of my cheekbone doesn't move like the left side does. If I feel it while I open my mouth, it feels different too. I can slide my mandible further to the right than the left.

I know this sounds silly, but it's really uncomfy...

Does this make sense to anybody? I really appreciate your help! Thanks, clearblue

Bluebug938 · 01-10-2009, 11:37 AM

You don't sound silly at ALL!! There are tons of people here on the TMJD board who can relate to the problems you described. You should see a TMJD specialist and get this figured out. TMJD can be caused by many different things including having your teeth moved by braces. The teeth are now in a different place causing your bite to be off which can cause aggravation to the TMJ which turns into a horrible downward cycle, which will get more and more painful at each turn. Your ear pain can also be completely related. A lot of times my worst symptom is inner ear pain caused by my jaw. See a doc now who can help break this cycle!

Good Luck!

StillHope · 01-11-2009, 12:57 AM

Hi clearblue,
welcome to the club!!
I have the same thing but not from braces but from the back crowns made improperly many years ago. Back then I didn't know much (or at all) about bites and when that dentist told me with a lot of authority to "get used to this" I had no choice though I felt that one side was not matching my bite. Recently a dentist asked me how could I have lived like this for so many years? Well, my jaw pays the price now...
So I got quite educated being for many years now with a bite messed up.

Do you remember whether your mid-line was lined up before the braces?
Of course, check your jaw and find out about the state of your disks. On the other hand, before any more dental work I highly suggest that you find your comfy bite yourself, i.e. the pain-free relaxed position at which you feel good, look like yourself and your jaw can easily move up and down without any pain. Do not look at the mid-line, it could have shifted due to braces. It seems that your right side is pushed too much forward. Is your lower mid-line now off to the left?

There are not only a lot of people with tmj pains due to their messed up bites (from dental work or w/o it) but getting your bite back can be a very delicate and complex thing and can easily turn into more problems (read the posts). So, please, please, be very careful before allowing any more dental work. Ask them what can be a back-up; always ask for your models taken before and after any work. Keep track of what was done, why and so on. Take it seriously. You might be lucky and get it fixed quickly but "an ounce of prevention..."

lindy23 · 01-12-2009, 12:40 PM

Mine sounds very similar to yours. It wasn't caused from braces or dental work, my bottom jaw continued to grow after my top jaw stopped. My bite is completely different than it was four years ago, my face looks completely different, and my jaw does everything you are describing. It is unfortunate that you have that, but you are not silly or weird or anything.

Until you get to talk to someone, keep your teeth from touching at all times and try not to eat chewy or hard foods, and no gum! A lot of people say "teeth apart, lips together" so your teeth aren't touching, this is suppose to allow your muscles to relax, but it doesn't look like you are say a-buh...? all day. Oh and try moist heat, that helps with the pain, a lot of people use ice packs for 15 min at a time, but I find that makes my muscles spasm more.

Hopefully your ortho, dentist or GP can help you or referr you to a TMJ dentist. I wear a splint at night and sometimes during the day. I still have problems with my jaw, but it helps me so much.

Good luck to you!

clearblue · 01-13-2009, 07:12 AM

hey, everybody! thanks so much for your support/advice... i really, really appreciate this. i wish i could respond and stuff, but i have newly developed a hand injury (carpal sp.? tunnel, i think) and i cannot type except very carefully with my index fingers! ;(

anyway, just wanted you guys to know i am not ignoring you--i am reading every word you write--please keep it up!

thanks and blessings, clearblue <><