Hello,
I am thinking about doing functional orthodontics when I am finished with the military. Some of my problems are ear pressure, sore jaw muscles, sore neck muscles and some front teeth sensitivity. I have already been seen by an ENT for the ear pressure. All there tests showed up fine. I been to Orofacial Pain and they gave me medication which hasn't helped, just made me feel out of it. Also been to multiple dentists the first one gave me a mouthguard and wanted to grind down my bottom front tooth because it hits the top one. So I thought I would get a second opinion and they say my only other option than meds was accupunture. So after that I was refered to physical therapy were they showed me an exercise that relieves neck aches.
So I am thinking of taking my treatment in my own hands when I get out. My teeth were not that bad about 6 years ago when I came in. The bottoms were slightly crooked but have been crowding more since my wisdom teeth came in. I had them extracted in 2002. That is when my weird ear pressure feeling showed up. But now I also have a lot of muscle fatigue in my face and jaw with a level 2 or 3 pain which isn't much but annoying. Also tight neck muscles. In the pictures below you can kind of see that I had top braces when I was age 11, they too have been shifting. I completed phase I orthodontics but never completed phase II. Well, if I do opt for braces I am definitely not getting any teeth extracted. I am 24 and I have been very depressed, so I hope this would help. By the way I don't think my teeth look bad but it is my bite I really don't like. So if anyone has any ideas let me know!
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j60/m ... G_0736.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j60/m ... G_0716.jpg
Right side
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j60/m ... G_0732.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j60/m ... G_0735.jpg
Left side
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j60/m ... G_0738.jpg
Overbite
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j60/m ... G_0739.jpg
Top teeth mouth impression (nightguard impression)
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j60/m ... G_0729.jpg
Top view of bottom teeth
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j60/m ... G_0726.jpg
Ceph (xray profile)
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j60/m ... G_0722.jpg
Thinking about functional orthodontics (tmd issues)PICS..DR?
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Thinking about functional orthodontics (tmd issues)PICS..DR?
Last edited by mjbusch on Fri Jun 09, 2006 3:34 am, edited 1 time in total.
I am thinking it will be hard to find three orthodontists that practice functional orthodontics. Does anyone else have the same symptoms I do? Is this even a viable option or could these symptoms caused by something else not related to my bite? Does anyone know the price of functional orthodontics compared to normal? I know that normal braces range from 4000 to 6500.
http://www.migraineheadachepain.com/evaluation.html
http://www.gulakdds.com/Info/orthodontics.htm
http://www.smilepage.com/fjo/index.htm (This is one near me)
http://www.migraineheadachepain.com/evaluation.html
http://www.gulakdds.com/Info/orthodontics.htm
http://www.smilepage.com/fjo/index.htm (This is one near me)
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DrJeffOrtho
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Sun Jun 04, 2006 9:31 am
Here is how Joseph M. Gulak DDS describes it. From http://www.gulakdds.com/
Functional orthopedic orthodontics emphasizes how the muscles, jaw joints and teeth affect one another. A proper meshing of the teeth to function in harmony with the jaw joints and muscles will allow the teeth to wear and function evenly, be stable and decrease any trauma to the surrounding supporting bone. Narrow dental arch forms are properly developed to a full contour enhancing breathing and appearance. The "functional jaw orthopedic approach" is a very important approach that will help you achieve your goals of an improved profile and facial appearance, as well as the establishment of a proper joint position that ensures optimum TMJ health, appearance and comfort.
With the use of dental appliances, a proper tongue and jaw position is created to eliminate negative forces on the teeth. Our functional orthopedic orthodontic treatment involves aligning the upper and lower arches by use of appliance therapy, and then aligning the individual teeth via the use of braces. The long-term results of this combined type of treatment, as opposed to using only standard braces, tend to be more esthetically pleasing, stable, and shortens treatment time. Crowded teeth with seemingly little space should certainly be properly evaluated to prevent permanent tooth extractions.
The best link I have found about this treatment is:
http://www.drduanekeller.com/Orthodonti ... nships.htm
I just want to be pain free!! I thinks it makes sense that you should have your jaw, teeth, and muscles be relax when they are not being used. I now believe a lot of relapse is cause by those three components not being in harmony.
I have read many articles praising this type of treatment. I just hope it works in my case. I think this is really my last option, unless someone has any better treatments that would solve ear pressure, sore jaw muscles, and neck pain.
Functional orthopedic orthodontics emphasizes how the muscles, jaw joints and teeth affect one another. A proper meshing of the teeth to function in harmony with the jaw joints and muscles will allow the teeth to wear and function evenly, be stable and decrease any trauma to the surrounding supporting bone. Narrow dental arch forms are properly developed to a full contour enhancing breathing and appearance. The "functional jaw orthopedic approach" is a very important approach that will help you achieve your goals of an improved profile and facial appearance, as well as the establishment of a proper joint position that ensures optimum TMJ health, appearance and comfort.
With the use of dental appliances, a proper tongue and jaw position is created to eliminate negative forces on the teeth. Our functional orthopedic orthodontic treatment involves aligning the upper and lower arches by use of appliance therapy, and then aligning the individual teeth via the use of braces. The long-term results of this combined type of treatment, as opposed to using only standard braces, tend to be more esthetically pleasing, stable, and shortens treatment time. Crowded teeth with seemingly little space should certainly be properly evaluated to prevent permanent tooth extractions.
The best link I have found about this treatment is:
http://www.drduanekeller.com/Orthodonti ... nships.htm
I just want to be pain free!! I thinks it makes sense that you should have your jaw, teeth, and muscles be relax when they are not being used. I now believe a lot of relapse is cause by those three components not being in harmony.
I have read many articles praising this type of treatment. I just hope it works in my case. I think this is really my last option, unless someone has any better treatments that would solve ear pressure, sore jaw muscles, and neck pain.
One last thing, I was searching http://www.gulakdds.com/ and I stumbled onto this.
http://www.gulakdds.com/Newsletters/spring06.pdf
On the last page it lists all of my symptoms and they call it craniomandibular dysfunction.
http://www.gulakdds.com/Newsletters/spring06.pdf
On the last page it lists all of my symptoms and they call it craniomandibular dysfunction.
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DrJeffOrtho
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Sun Jun 04, 2006 9:31 am
Dealing with TMJ, TMD or Craniomandibular dysfunction ( all 3 names describing one , all or more of the symptoms you relate) is one of the most complex and confusing issues facing dentists today. On the one hand are those who feel the bite is a huge contributing factor to those symptoms, on the other, those who feel that the contributions of the bite and the occlusion are minimal at best.
Often resolving these issues involves some trial and error, and they don't usually resolve overnight. However, with a good group of specialists at your side helping you should be very hopeful.
My recommendation is to find an orthodontist and restorative dentist who have experience working together to help you reach your goals. Work with specialists, who have advanced university training. If the doctor is doing the restorative work as well as the orthodontics, unless he is one of a very few with double specialties, then he is not an orthodontist, rather a dentist who does orthodontics. My admitted bias here is toward the specialists. The reasons are many, but look for orthodontists or restorative dentists who have extra training in TMJ, who have been through the Pankey, FACE or OBI training continueum, or the Roth course from the ortho side.
Often resolving these issues involves some trial and error, and they don't usually resolve overnight. However, with a good group of specialists at your side helping you should be very hopeful.
My recommendation is to find an orthodontist and restorative dentist who have experience working together to help you reach your goals. Work with specialists, who have advanced university training. If the doctor is doing the restorative work as well as the orthodontics, unless he is one of a very few with double specialties, then he is not an orthodontist, rather a dentist who does orthodontics. My admitted bias here is toward the specialists. The reasons are many, but look for orthodontists or restorative dentists who have extra training in TMJ, who have been through the Pankey, FACE or OBI training continueum, or the Roth course from the ortho side.
Thanks Dr Jeff,
I wish they had a treatment where I wouldn't need to go through the trial and error. But anyways I now know I am positive for TB, I just had the test Friday where I passed out after having the shot. I don't think things could get to much worse. I will ask the oral facial pain clinic about what I have learned and see what they have to say. Thanks again everyone.
I wish they had a treatment where I wouldn't need to go through the trial and error. But anyways I now know I am positive for TB, I just had the test Friday where I passed out after having the shot. I don't think things could get to much worse. I will ask the oral facial pain clinic about what I have learned and see what they have to say. Thanks again everyone.