TMJD prior to braces?

[overfortyish]

Hi - just wondering how many people on here were told they had TMJD prior to getting braces and IF so, did you try treating the TMJD prior to being braced, or did you opt to just get the braces hoping it would improve your TMJ discomfort?

If you treated before braces - - for how long and with what kind of appliance? What did the appliance achieve prior to your orthodontia and did your pain return once you were braced?

Thanks!

[Norelly]

Hi, I recently have tmjd issues, I wake up everyday with a nice headache etc. I have had braces before but no success.
This time around I seeked help for tmjd first. My current orthodontist said that what was causing or at least making my tmj worse was that I have a very unstable bite, Class II 5 mm and open bite 1mm, it doesn't seem that bad aesthetically however he said that my molars hit exactly one on top of the other. Any way, this Friday I will be fitted with a splint, it is supposed to realign my jaw at its most comfortable position, after this happens, my jaw relaxes and my tmj gets better I will have braces to fix my bite and teeth according to the new relaxed and physically right position. I hope this helps!!

[SDFD TSchott]

I was told by my dentist he was concerned about my bite that it is developing TMJ. I Seeked opinion of multiple dentists/orthodontists and even my doctor and they all said TMJ development is in progress, 2 of 3 orthos said start braces treatment now before it gets out of hand. I have one more appointment to go to a well recommended orthodontist on thursday the 26th and will determine from there.

Either way it looks like I am most definitely seeking Ortho treatment again Round Two and keeping retainers in like I should!

[sadpanda]

My ortho said that my tmj might get better once my bite is fixed with braces, but that he can't cure it. He said to wait until the tmj causes me incredible pain to get surgery.

[overfortyish]

It's really hard to know what is best. I've read a lot of information that says orthodontia or any change in an already bad bite can actually make TMJD worse! If you go to this website, there are many research trials going on right now - and prior studies, so far have not been able to prove that any form of orthodontia can help or improve pain associated with TMJD. In some instances it can make it worse.

Loads of info here: http://tmj.org/site/

[overfortyish]

Any way, this Friday I will be fitted with a splint, it is supposed to realign my jaw at its most comfortable position, after this happens, my jaw relaxes and my tmj gets better I will have braces to fix my bite and teeth according to the new relaxed and physically right position. I hope this helps!!

Do you know what kind of the following splint you will receive??? This information was obtained from the TMJ Association website. (The TMJ Association, Ltd. (TMJA) is a non-profit, patient advocacy organization whose mission is to improve the quality of healthcare and lives of everyone affected by temporomandibular disorders (TMJD). We invite you to read through our site. We do not provide medical advice or referrals, but we can link you to science-based information. We hope you'll join us in changing the face of TMJ™) www.tmj.org/site

Stabilization or flat plane splint. This splint covers all the upper teeth and its flat surface is intended to help reduce tooth grinding and relax your sore jaw muscles. However, it does not prevent tooth clenching because the lower teeth can still contact it. Therefore, in some patients, their condition can be aggravated by the splint.

Modified Hawley splint. This splint fits on the upper jaw and makes contact with only the six lower front teeth. Thus it keeps the back teeth from touching and prevents both clenching and grinding. It is generally worn only at night because constant wear may allow the back (posterior) teeth to shift.

NTI-tss (Nociceptive Trigeminal Inhibition Tension Suppression System). The NTI appliance fits on the upper front teeth and is designed to prevent tooth clenching and grinding. However, because it fits on only a few teeth, it places a great deal of stress on them and that can be harmful. Also, because of its small size, if it comes off during the night, there is danger that it could be swallowed or aspirated.

Repositioning splint. This splint is used to move the lower jaw either forward or backward. It is intended to put the jaw into a new position and therefore it can cause permanent changes in the bite. It is a more invasive form of splint treatment.

[brendap27]

Hello, I'm wearing braces now for the second time because of TMJD. I don't know if my first set of braces had anything to do with it, but it wasn't long after gettting them off that I started having severe trouble with my jaw locking up. Then years of popping and grinding in my jaw and then I started developing severe neck pain and headaches due to myofascial pain that was a result of the improper jaw position.

I went to a dentist who specializes in treating TMJD and he did tests on me to determine the ideal position for my jaw to be in, and like the earlier poster, had a splint made that put my jaw in the proper position. I wore this for six months and then they banded my molars and using rubber bands, began pulling my lower molars up into the position that my splint was holding my jaw in.

After wearing the splint for a year, and doing the molar movement for six months of that time, I didn't need the splint any longer. I am now wearing braces to reposition all of my teeth into an ideal position and bite.

It has helped quite a bit with the pain.

[Vncentturnr]

I'm a spammer from India and now I'm banned.

[drrick]

Personally I treat the TMD first.
I was to alleviate the syptoms AMAP before starting braces. This is used not only as a tx to relax the muscles, relieve pain, prevent migraines, etc but it is also a diagnostic tool as it can tell me the nature and cause of teh TMD.

Others will do it differently but that is the way I prefer to handle it.