Metal Mouth Message Board

This is my story
I live in woodstock ontario canada

I was 41 when i attended a church and met a dentist who specialized in TMJ>

During a meet and greet time during a service he shook my hand looked at me and asked if i had pain in my face- i said yes i do all the time. HE said i need to make an appointment to see him his office. I apparently had some noticable swelling to him of course since this is what he did for a living. I hesitated and procrastinate for a few months then jumped in.
I got diagnosed with TMJ and got splints made.

The first night i was pain and symptom free. 100% effective.
I suffered from
being tired all the time from lack of good sleep from holding my jaw tight during sleep
headaches
jaw muscle pain
eye pain
neck pain
leg cramps
and foot pain
and back pain
almost similar to fybromyalgia you can goggle that LOL

here are my pics
i hope that my story give help to someone and encouragement and hope to others as well.

Bottom splint- left night time splint right


Wearing bottom splint- pre expander


Wearing night time splint pre expander


Diagnosis


Treatment plan TMJ


This is day 4 turned once


This is day 6 turned 2 times


This is day 10 turned 3 times


This is day 60 turned about 20 times - expander at 5 mm


Schwartz removable expander top


Schwartz removable expander bottom

I have been wearing the expander for just over 60 days and on feb 24 i will be stopping the exapnding part and continue wearing it till may then getting braces
I will hopefully update as i make progress and changes happen
Can not wait for that.
My smile and mouth are hideous.
BUT i am fearfully and wonderfully made

BUMP

I find it not very supportive or encouraging that my post has been read lots BUT no one has replied.
Seems odd to me and doesn't help me much!
Sure was hoping to get more encouragement.
Seems the only replies are on those who have braces for looks only not medical is there somewhere else i could post my story to get some encouragement.
perhaps i will leave.
sorry vent over.

DON'T LEAVE! My story had a lot of views but didn't get any comments either so you are definately not alone in that boat!

Thank you so much for posting the pictures of your progression. It is very encouraging for me. Even though we do not have the same appliance it is still very helpful!!

I look forward to reading more about your progress. Please do not leave!

Hi eyebeeablessing2u,

Don't get discourage. Sometimes people just read but have no input, it happens to all us

I am there with you on the crossbite and TMJ. I have a really bad crossbite on my right side. I am not using a expander like you, which I wonder if that would of been a good appliance to use during my treatment, but instead, I am using elastics. My bite has been getting somehow worse at this point but Dr. A says not to worry.

It is a long process and you will get where you need to be. I am glad you are starting this journey. The end result will be amazing.

How iare those expanders working?

Finally thanks for the replies
The expander is going well.
Had it in for 60 days or so now.
Got it in Nov 24. I was supposed to start wearing it in Jan but I got pregnant and couldn't stomach it because of Gag reflex and too much morning sickness. Baby is now 5 months old. LOL
I am apparantely getting molded feb 24 for a bottom one. IT will be cemented and a spring loaded one. Won't have to turn it.
I also need far back adn twisted wisdom tooth removed.
When that gets out they will bracket and wire right away. OUCHY!

relieved that someone finally responded
THanks

You keep posting. Looking forward to veiwing your outcome!

How do i update my originaly post without replying to it ?

Hi eyebeeablessing2u,

I'm not too familiar with TMJ so I'm afraid I can't offer any advice, but I wanted to wish you luck as you begin treatment! Do you know yet when your wisdom tooth will be extracted? Between that and the bracing, that's sure to be a day to remember!

I look forward to seeing all your progress!

My update
I had an appointment to hcek my expander and I dont have to expand any more
It at 5 mm which is what he needed and my teeth have large enough gaps now.
I also don't have to wear my bottom splint since it was causing me some pain and tenderness in m y left side jaw joint. I removed it saturday because I got tired of eating tylenol and advil like candy and thought to take it out and see if that stopped the pain. It did.
As long as i have no other TMJ symptoms i can keep it out. which in fact makes it easier when the braces go on.

Upper wires are going on april 2 at 11 40 am. unless i get bumped ahead which i asked for.
And i don't have to wear an expander for the bottoms since the bottom braces can do that without it. Insert smile here LOL

I have to get my one wsdon tooth out and then the bottoms will go on right after that while the bone there is traumatized and soft. Instead of waiting for it to heal... back to tylenol and advil
On a sad note not related to braces
My father passed away yesterday. His heart was failing after a stroke 4 years ago. much medication and falls and several smaller heart attacks in the lst 6 months. He went peacefully believed in god and jesus and all that wonderful stuff

Hey there, I am sorry to hear about your dad. As you said on your post, he is now in a better place, resting peacefully.

It's great that you dont have to wear the expanders anymore. Soon you will be in braces and time will fly by.

Hang in there and hope things move quicky.

i am still wearing the upper expander
Now i am not wearing the bottom splint because it was keeping my jaw in the wrong position.
I also found out that I get to skip the first archwire since my teeth are mostly even, which cuts down the total treatment time. I am not sure in my case how long it will shorten it but it is progress.

Karen

karen,

I am so sorry to hear about your dad. I hope you are doing as good to be expected at this time.

Glad to hear you are making progress with your expander and that you are going to be getting started with the braces soon!

Good luck!

Yeah
I got in on monday with a cancellation
230 its time
good distraction for the weekend
dads funeral and baby sick with broncitis

Quick update
Got upper braces on monday at 230 pm
took about 1 hour and 10 minutes
felt weird just like other posters have said about it being like having legos on your teeth,

a bracket came off about 3 hours after so i had to go back the next day at 10 30 am. and when they took the wire off another one snapped off. so i had to get 2 brackets replaced and reattached - used harder cement stuff and longer time to cure it with that purple light.
Only one spot at the back on my left side hurts where the wire is digging in my cheek- wax works and tylenol and advil is helping but i dont need it as much
even when i went back the next day after getting them on. the girl said there was already movement that she could see. I notice now that when i nung, chomp my bite is already noticably different because i can feel some teeth touching where they didnt b4.
all for now
baby was in the hospital from saturday till thursday ( Today) so when i have time i will do a picture.

Congrats on getting your braces on, I can't wait!!! Sorry to hear about your baby.