Do you HAVE to change your bite to cure TMJ?!
Question: I have TMJ and I have been wearing a repositioning splint for about a year to change my bite so my condiles wouldn't rub together anymore, then I was suppose to get braces to make that bite permanent. It seemed to work, but ecspecially after I started massage therapy. Well about a month ago, all of a sudden my jaw started locking and popping on the left side (before it was my right). I started researching and almost everything I read says not to do any irreversible treatment to treat TMJ including respositioning splints and braces. So now I wonder, is it really nececssary for my bite to be changed? I have decided to take my splint out and attempt to go back to my original bite and just go with more conservative treatments such as massage, chircopractor, icing, and things like that to see if that could cure my TMJ, and maybe Invisalign to straighten my teeth and maybe small adjustments to my bite. What do you think, is it ok to try other treatments, or will my bite def. need 2 b changed
Answers: I have TMJ and I have been wearing a repositioning splint for about a year to change my bite so my condiles wouldn't rub together anymore, then I was suppose to get braces to make that bite permanent. It seemed to work, but ecspecially after I started massage therapy. Well about a month ago, all of a sudden my jaw started locking and popping on the left side (before it was my right). I started researching and almost everything I read says not to do any irreversible treatment to treat TMJ including respositioning splints and braces. So now I wonder, is it really nececssary for my bite to be changed? I have decided to take my splint out and attempt to go back to my original bite and just go with more conservative treatments such as massage, chircopractor, icing, and things like that to see if that could cure my TMJ, and maybe Invisalign to straighten my teeth and maybe small adjustments to my bite. What do you think, is it ok to try other treatments, or will my bite def. need 2 b changed
I've seen people with wacky bites and no TMD (tempero-mandibular Dysfunction), and people with perfect bites and big problems. Bites that are "Off" can contribute to TMD problems, but they are not the sole cause. Stress management, awareness of "parafunctional" habits (anything other than chewing or talking), among other things, all join together to create the dysfunctional problems. Having braces to correct a bite may help but will not cure the problem. (There is a small group of orthodontists out there who wonder if they, in fact, can truly correct a bite... again, they can improve it, but seldom fix it)
I've never seen anyone improve from surgery... only bite disasters after that kind of invasive treatment.
your splint was to position the jaw in a less stressful position,which helps with the pain. you need to see a tmj specialist.There arent many,as there is no designated specialists having this title.do a little research,as there are good ones at dental schools. a last result is oral surgery..................this is the last treatment you should consider.surgery is a last resort. there is so much unknown about tmj, that alot of insurance co. wont cover it. get multiple opinions. this question is way out of the scope of a simple yahoo forum. good luck.......Dr g