TMJ and braces?

[nancy13000]

So I'm getting braces in about a week and I was wondering if having brcaes will make your TMJ problems worse, I've heard sometimes it does with braces. I've had jaw popping since I was 15 then a few years after that my jaw started to shift to the right when I would open it wide, sometimes getting stuck in that position. I talked to my dentist he said braces can fix the problem. Then when I saw 2 orthos they say they can't guarantee it would fix it and basically just dismissed it. I have very crowded teeth. I also went to a functional ortho and he said he would be able to help me but I didn't feel confident that he could I chose a regular ortho, my teeth are very crowded. Id like any advice please. Thanks.

[Xenbuf]

I had to get braces for TMJ. I have had them for three weeks and I have not had any pain in my jaw at all. It seemed to help from the second they were put on. I used to wake up every morning and put my jaw back in place and that hasn't happened either in three weeks. I am quite happy about it.

[TMJJill]

In my opinion, it really will depend on the training and skill of your orthodontist. There are a lot of people out there who actually had their tmjd triggered by orthodontic treatment that only addressed straightening the teeth and didn't address the bite at all.

I developed tmjd a few years ago. It took a lot of research for me to find an orthodontist who could provide me with appropriate treatment. I finally found a functional orthodontist who has a lot of additional training in treating tmj issues. I'm now in braces as Phase II of my tmjd treatment after having worn a splint for a year to get my bite in a better place first. The braces are to establish my "new" bite.

I would be very careful in proceeding with the braces if you aren't having your tmjd issues addressed at the same time.

[oimysizex]

hey nancy, it depends. My orthodontist said it can either get worse or better. Since having my braces on, I still have the popping and cracking but not half as bad, so there's every chance your tmj will get better

[sweetcynic]

If you have significant TMJ symptoms, don't you usually wear a splint first?

[sweetcynic]

Also, it depends what is causing your symptoms. If you have a deep bite that is causing your TMJ, then braces could very much help. If you are only straightening your teeth and not addressing bite issues, they won't help and could even make things worse. If it's something like a filling that wasn't filed down correctly that is messing up your bite, then braces would be expensive and ineffective.

[Beaniebean]

Please make sure you do your research properly first, I didn't and now I'm paying the price physically, mentally and financially. I was obssesed with straightening my teeth and got a 6 month cosmetic fast track brace. This does not take into account any bite issues at all. I was having problem before the brace, to be honest I didn't know then that I have TMJ, but now my problems are ten fold. Only 4 of my teeth touch and I'm in serious pain in my face and my head. To cut a long story short I am now under a TMJ specialist and will have to undergo splint therapy and then reconstruction. I will more than likely have to sell my house to pay for this work. I really wish I had done my research first, I would have saved myself a lot of pain and a lot of money.

[nancy13000]

Wow Beaniebean I'm so sorry to hear that you're in pain and about your situation. I wish you the best! As for me when I saw a functional ortho he said my TMJ issues were due to my severe crowding so there was a good chance that with braces would fix that. Then he said if he were to treat me he may be able to expand my upper jaw and keep my teeth. I asked him how successful he was in the past he said 50/50. Then he said that in order to even give me an estimate or treatment options he needs to take xrays, and exams which would be about $500. So I figured that I didn't want to pay 500 plus the actual tretment for all the devices I would need, as my dental insurance didn't cover braces and not sure that my health insurance would either cover any TMJ treatment. So I decided do I want to try to expand my jaw and keep my 4 teeth or should I just go ahead and go for braces at a regular ortho. I made the difficult decision becasue for 1 I didn't feel that he was confident in keeping my 4 teeth and I reallly didn't know how much out of pocket I'd have to pay in the long run. So i chose the regular ortho becasue the functional ortho said my TMJ issues are due tomy severe crowding. So I hope I made the right decision. May I add I went to see the functional ortho becasue they specialize in treating not only TMJ issues and braces but they opt out for not pulling teeth.

[cavomington]

I'm not sure if I had TMJ, but I'm getting less headaches after having braces for four months. The first week was terrible as far as headaches go for me. Nearly incapacitating at times.