possible jaw issues after 6 month smiles (upper teeth only)

[paininthebrace]

Hello all,

Around a year ago I agreed to the 6 month smiles treatment from a local general dentist and had them fitted on the upper teeth only, which had some level of crowding (involving 3 of the front teeth mainly). The lower teeth looked mostly fine. The dentist convinced me it would work out and was quick put them on.

But after some months I began having very nasty headaches in the left temple and my jaw would sometimes contract. I can't explain it. But I soldiered on until these headaches eventually had me going to hospital. My health has not been the same since.

I now have symptoms such as ringing in my ears, tenderness below my right ear, and really enlarged jaw muscles. Most importantly I struggle getting proper sleep as I frequently wake up feeling breathless.

I had missed a few adjustment appointments which I couldn't attend due to work (their clinic is busy and they always offer inconvenient times), but don't think they were all that important. I think whats important is my bite and I don't think simply doing the upper teeth has worked - and my dentist probably knows.

What are your opinions. Is it possible for bite problems to be causing so much harm to my health?.

I would appreciate any responses.

[Nozzelnut]

The simple answer is yes I think it can.

One member here had some significant hearing loss from TMJD.

Myself (a chicken and egg scenario) my shifting bite added to my TMJD symptoms; or the other way around. Which added to the bruxism; clenching and grinding which shifted my bite even more. So my circular problem kept getting bigger and more painful.

[Ciara]

Yes, a bad bite can cause a lot of problems:

TOOTH PROBLEMS: tooth pain, treatment of root canals due to the death of tooth nerves or severe tooth pain, loss of teeth, teeth that are sensitive to extreme temperatures, damage to the surface of the tooth/teeth look worn down, teeth that appear chipped, fractured or cracked, tipping, misalignment and crowding of teeth

MUSCLE PROBLEMS: tension headaches, more frequent or more severe migraines in people who already get them, muscle spasms in the jaw. neck and shoulders, trigger points which radiate pain to other muscles as well as teeth, ears, eyes and neck, Jaw muscles that are sore and get easily fatigued

BONE PROBLEMS: gum tissue recedes, bone support around the teeth becomes weak, horizontal bone loss around the front and back teeth

JOINT (TMJ) PROBLEMS: pain that feels like an earache due to jaw joint pain, locking, grinding, clicking and popping of the jaws, damage to joint surface, TMJ disc will deteriorate, occasionally hearing loss

NERVE PROBLEMS: loss of dental sensory perception, radiating pains throughout the teeth, head, neck and upper shoulders.

FUNCTIONAL AND COSMETIC PROBLEMS: a collapsed bite, deepening of wrinkles (a collapsed lower face),Sore and wet spots on the corners of the mouth (a drooping smile), lips become thin and lack fullness

ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS: Problems swallowing, snoring, upper airway resistance syndrome, and / or obstructive sleep apnea


If you think your problems are cause but changes to your bite, you need to seen an orthodontist. These problems don't go away by themselves but only get worse.

[paininthebrace]

Thank you for the responses. I do not have any immediate tooth pain but am sure that my new bite is causing me problems. Hopefully my dentist will cooperate.

[sirwired]

I think you really need to see, at the least, an orthodontist. You may also want to see if you can find a dentist or oral surgeon that specializes in TMJ issues. I'm not sure how useful it would be to go back to the general dentist that fitted you for the 6-month smiles; if they knew how to fix this sort of issue, it probably would have been corrected while you were still in braces.