Splint or Mouth Guard to hold lower jaw forward?

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#1 Post by **MareNostrum** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 12:02 am

Is it possible to use a splint or mouth guard for hold your lower jaw forward? My lower jaw sits several mm back behind my upper jaw causing the lower 1/3 of my face and my profile to be thrown out of alignment. I compensate this by jutting my lower jaw forward. I'm just wondering if there is an appliance I can wear to help alleviate this.

I've had braces but although they straightened my teeth and reduced my overjet my profile is imbalanced and I'm becoming very self conscience. I also feel that by constantly holding my lower jaw forward I'm going to end up creating a whole set of TMJ issues but I can't help it.

#2 Post by **Sidney** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 8:31 am

There are appliances like twin blocks that can move the lower jaw forward, though I'm not sure they can be used for adults (I think they can).

You should definitely stop jutting your jaw.

#3 Post by **drrick** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 9:30 am

There are appliances used to hold the jaw forward as part of tx but they are not used for 'esthetics'

Perhaps a chin implant should be considered or orthagnathic surgery.

#4 Post by **MareNostrum** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 11:41 am

Sidney wrote:There are appliances like twin blocks that can move the lower jaw forward, though I'm not sure they can be used for adults (I think they can).

You should definitely stop jutting your jaw.

I'm 18 male so I may still be growing.

If I bite down on my jaw my mouth looks very weird like the lower 1/3 of my face becomes chubby and looks regressed.

#5 Post by **MareNostrum** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 11:42 am

drrick wrote:There are appliances used to hold the jaw forward as part of tx but they are not used for 'esthetics'

Perhaps a chin implant should be considered or orthagnathic surgery.

I think a chin implant would help hide the issue but it wouldn't actually correct my regressed lower jaw.

#6 Post by **drrick** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 12:44 pm

An appliance won't likely do it either

#7 Post by **MareNostrum** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 1:00 pm

I'm frustrated. At 16 my orthodontist put braces on my teeth but did absolutely nothing to address the regressed lower jaw. Now although my teeth are somewhat straight, my lower jaw is still further back. From what I hear my teeth will go back to where they were before anyway because of the underlying skeletal issue.