| Subject: Re: TMJ/Braces |
Author:
skowjams
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Date Posted: 17:41:19 08/17/04 Tue
In reply to:
WorshipDude
's message, "TMJ/Braces" on 10:01:33 08/17/04 Tue
I'm 39 and have TMJ problems too. I've been wearing a splint 24/7 for almost a year to alleviate my headaches, weird vision, and other symptoms that have been cause by my jaw being too far back and to the right. I got several opinions before I chose the dentist who has been treating me. Since I have arthiritis in my jaw joints, he recommended crowning 14 teeth, but that proposal was too expensive for us, and was turned down by my insurance company. He then refered me to the only orthodontist in this area who is willing to treat people with arthiritis, after telling me that my case would be too complicated for his office. I recommend getting numerous opinions from orthodontists in your area. Your TMJ problems will only get worse over time...............if I had gotten treatment earlier, I wouldn't have the arthritis issue. Good luck on finding someone who you can trust.
>Long story. I've had TMJ issues for a number of
>years. As I'm getting older (I'm 44 now) the symptoms
>have increased (jaws clicking, headaches behind eyes
>and in temples, stuffy ears and ears ringing, etc.)
>As a result, I started going to a dentist several
>months ago to start TMJ therapy. We started with the
>splint and that seemed to alleviate (not eliminate)
>some of the symptoms. After awhile, he suggested that
>the problems were really the result of my bad bite. I
>have open bite, overjet issues as well as the upper
>and lower teeth just not fitting together well. He
>advised me to consult an orthodontist. So far, so
>good. Braces as a middle-aged man doesn't thrill me,
>but wife is supportive and I mentally prepared myself
>for the idea.
>
>So far, I've been to two orthodontists, and this is
>where it gets interesting.
>
>Ortho #1 said to continue splint therapy and at some
>point he would grind away at my teeth to get them to
>fit together better. Hmmm, not happy with that
>solution.
>
>Ortho #2 told me that TMJ is typically the result of
>malformed jaws and the only viable solution was
>orthognathic surgery. Not very happy with that
>solution either.
>
>The research I'd done on TMJ told me that option #1
>wasn't a very good solution and it's apparently rare
>that teeth grinding is ever done anymore. Doing some
>research on option #2, orthognathic surgery, I could
>find no examples where this surgery is done to correct
>TMJ. In fact, it seems as if the surgery could
>actually increase the problems with TMJ.
>
>So, my questions are these. Do either of these
>options sound realistic? Should I flee from both of
>these orthodontists? Is it likely that another
>orthodontist is going to suggest these options? Or is
>it more likely that it will fall somewhere in between.
> I'd be okay doing the braces, but anything more
>radical than that and I'd probably just deal with it,
>or wait until it becomes debilitating.
>
>I'm open to suggestions.
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