Hello Everybody....Just thought I'd let you know what's been going on with my current splint treatments. I've had a new Repositional Splint for 5.5 weeks now, and I'm on day 9 of decreased pain!! yay! I havent' felt this good in a year. I can finally read to my daughter at night without major pain, and my facial muscles aren't so tender to the touch. The splint is a neuromuscular, hard acrylic splint that fits over my bottom teeth. It is indexed, (bumpy) and holding my jaw in a more down and forward position. This is also seen on new tomograms that were taken. I don't have any real working discs anymore, and it's putting my mandible in a more functioning position. Once you establish a better mandible position, the muscles will adapt and strengthen and relax, decreasing the pain. I still have some pain, probably for the rest of my life, but it has gotten a lot better. (I've had tmj for 20yrs., so there will always be some residule (sp) pain...) My doctor is a NM dentist, and is also a Functional Jaw Orthodontist as well as being a tmj and sleep apnea specialist. Take care all, just wanted to let you know I'm having some success finally!!!!
Jmitchell, congratulations!!
That's one of the greatest news for all of us in this forum; you're bringing the light of hope for everyone and I am SO!!!! happy for you!!!!
I just wanted to let you know that you've been the GREATEST support for me, and every single person that has been suffering. You don't know how much it means to me to think that someone out there is genuinely caring and willing to help. I can't imagine of me going from doctors to doctors, trying to find out what it is. but with your advices, I know I am on the right track.
Thank you so much Jmitchell, and please keep up updated with your progress.
I am so happy to hear that you are feeling better! That gives me such great hope that I can feel great again too! I have never had an "indexed" splint before, but it makes total sense to be "bumpy" in certain areas to reposition the jaw.
Hey Jmitchell, I hope you continue to heal and improve with your new splint! Just wanted to ask: with a neuromuscular splint, how often do you have to have adjustments? And for each adjustment, do you have to do all those tests (ESG, EMG, K-7, etc) or are there times when you don't? Thanks for any help!
HI-----Every doctor does things a little differently, but mine did NO adjustments until 1 mo. after receiving the orthodic. Some have you come in a week or 2 after getting them, just to check in on you, and to see if something needs a slight adjustment. After that, it's usually a monthly or 6 week checkup. Also, you do not need to do testing between checkups. My doctor does not do the K-7 at checkups....I don't really know about other docs...but it's not necessary. Those are really used initially to help find the proper mandible position, and to create the orthodic....Let me know if you have anymore questions...
My success with splint therapy....:) 
