Does anyone have braces as TMJ treatment?

[mouse26]

I am wondering if anyone on the boards has braces or any type of orthodontics for phase two of TMJ treatment? What has been your experience? Did you wear a splint? For how long? How long will your braces treatment be? Have you noticed a change in your pain levels since having your bite corrected?

Thanks!
Mouse26

[ScoopBrady]

I have an ortho appointment about my TMJ issues, but not until November 2, so I have awhile to wait! Plus, there's only a few orthos in my area, so I basically picked blind from the phone book. I'll fill you in on what I find out.

[chickadee]

That was the main reason my dentist wanted me to get braces for was TMJ. I do have a couple of turned teeth and gaps to be fixed also. I've had my top braces since April and I've noticed in the last 3 or 4 weeks my jaw has been a little more sore than normal and popping a little more. I told my ortho about it and he told me to chew a certain way until he can get my teeth to where they need to be. I also wear a splint every night and will most likely have to wear something like this for the rest of my life. It seems to help out. I noticed too that the more stress I have the more I clench and the more my jaw hurts so I try to just take it easy and dont let things stress me out.
My treatment time is supposed to be 12 to 18 months.

[mistake56]

My daughter is wearing braces for Phase II of her TMJD treatment. For phase one she was in a series of splints which she wore 24/7 for about 18 months.

She was originally told that she would have braces for a couple of years, but it looks like it will actually take less time than than.

[mouse26]

Thanks to you all for responding to my questions. I am glad to hear others are going this route as well. Chickadee, do you grind or clench your teeth at night? Is that why you are still wearing a splint? Did you have a splint before you got braces? I definitely agree with what you said about the stress...that plays a huge part in my TMJ too. Scoopbrady, definitely keep me posted on your appt too Mistake 56, do you know what type of splint your daughter had? Did she wear it full-time? I am hoping my dentist will say a shorter time with the splint. That's great news about it taking a shorter time than she expected. Has she noticed a decrease in pain, popping, muscle problems since she has begun correcting her bite? Thanks again

[chickadee]

Chickadee, do you grind or clench your teeth at night? Is that why you are still wearing a splint? Did you have a splint before you got braces?

Before I got braces I had a temporary splint that my dentist made out of a hard plastic. I actually ended up breaking it from cleanching . Then got the top braces and then my ortho made me a splint called something like a gollub or something like that which has metal in it, I'll try to post a picture tonight of it. I think I clench more than I grind my teeth, but yeah I do that in my sleep. Although occassionally I will catch myself during the day clenching. The more my teeth move the more I'm trying to find a relaxed way to have my mouth, but then I'll end up clenching down. I don't have to wear my splint during the day, which I hope I wont have to do, but I think once my treatment is done, I'll be able to relax my mouth more.
Oh and the type of splint I have is adjustable, so when I get my bottom braces the Ortho will be able to make it fit over the braces.
Isn't TMJ such a pain though, literally. Like the other night I was having popcorn (I know a big no, no) but I couldn't even open my mouth far enough to put one piece in my mouth. I had to just shove it in and chew in really small bites.
Have you ever been brushing your teeth and have your jaw pop cause you opened it wrong? That also happend the other day too. TMJ is so unpredictable, in my case anyway. One week no problem and then the next I can't even eat a piece of popcorn.

[HeadgearJoe]

I am wondering if anyone on the boards has braces or any type of orthodontics for phase two of TMJ treatment? What has been your experience? Did you wear a splint? For how long? How long will your braces treatment be? Have you noticed a change in your pain levels since having your bite corrected?

Thanks!
Mouse26

hi . OH YES , this is the only reason i'm in braces now , my first ortho said he could treat me just with braces , he removed them after 12 months of a 18 month treatment plan , my tmj came back 100 times worse, i was put back in braces an active treatment with bite plates , tmj splints by a expert this time , it's been a very long road of treatment close to five years an all is well looking to finish by the end of the year,

[mistake56]

Mouse -
She had several kinds of splints over that 18-month period. We started conservatively and had worked our way up to other styles. Her problem was a displaced disc causing a closed lock.

First she had a regular flat plane top splint for night only - then a thicker flat plane that she wore 24/7 - the he gradually built up the front to form a repositioning splint (which is when he told us that the braces would be necessary because her bite would be changing) - that did the trick, but left her with a pretty severe open bite.

She then had tiny little plates implanted in her top jaw (not a big deal) to be used as anchorage for the braces to close the bite. Her doctor is amazed at her progress. I wish I had pictures to show you. You woudn't believe it!

[SuzyCentri]

You betcha! I have been pretty busy the last few weeks and haven't been on my computer, or I'd have answered right away.

As a matter of fact, I have a little update that I'll share. You can read the whole story on my website (below link).

But here's my update: went to the ortho yesterday and asked why I don't have jaw pain. I don't understand how it works. First, let me say, I LOVE my ortho. He always takes the time to answer my questions. And he didn't let me down. He explained that, while he has no proof, he believes that by putting braces on, you ever-so-slightly change the bite, giving that "spot" a rest. He said it might not be more than a millimeter, but it does the trick. I agreed, it did the trick. He says a lot of people just call it "black magic", and leave it at that. I'm OK with that theory, too. Whatever works. And if you have TMJ pain, then you're probably willing to do a little voodoo.

Within a day of having my upper braces put on, my jaw could open all the way. The clicking is not as noticable, and the "heat" and swelling went away. And a possibly unrelated "sinus" headache went away, too.

Of course, there are days that my teeth don't line up because the braces are moving them. And then there is pain that is very much like what I had before, but it seldom lasts more than a day. Because...every day in braces is different for me. My teeth are moving all the time.

I don't regret this one bit. Do I like braces? No, can't say that I do. But for me, it is welcome relief.

And one last note. My ortho said that 100% of his patients with TMJ pain are helped while wearing braces. 80% of those are "cured", even after the braces are removed. 20% need some additional treatment after the braces are removed. He has said that he will put a permanent retainer on the bottom after removing my braces, with a removeable retainer on top, that I will always wear while sleeping.

[mouse26]

Thanks again for all of your wonderful responses. I met with my dentist today and she says I am in a closed lock position and recommends a twin block appliance. Have any of you had a similar appliance? She said I would wear it all the time for at minimum 9 months. Once my jaw was corrected she would make another appliance for my top teeth to keep my jaw comfortable and that I would wear a bottom appliance at night with elastics in between them to bring my back teeth together. It sounds complicated (about 2 years in total time) and expensive now doesn't it? The three scariest parts for me is

1.) She said she might have to move my front teeth out a bit which would create spaces in between them. I had 2 1/2 years of ortho treatment and have very nice looking teeth right now. The thought of making them look worses petrifies me! Eventually she would fix them back but I don't know how long down the road.

2.) Cosmetically the twin block looks like a retainer which to me is worse than ceramic braces. It feels like there would be more explaining to do with an appliance that looks like a retainer.

3.) The cost worries me because there are many steps. The dentist said she files certain parts under medical and others under dental and that we would work together to get the claims paid. She basically said persistence pays off and my husband said he is willing to be the aggressive one. He sort of fancies it as a hobby!

The best part and the only thing that is still making me consider the possibility is that the pain would be immediately relieved once I started wearing the appliance. And we have a wonderful and trusting relationship with the dentist who has been a family friend since I was young. Please let me know if any of you have had similar experiences.

Thanks!
Mouse26

[mistake56]

Hey Mouse,

It's great that you feel comfortable with your dentist, but make sure you become very well educated on TMJD before you do anything permanent.

What are your dentist's credentials as far as treating TMJD? What percentage of his/her practice is devoted to this condition? Can you talk to other people he/she has treated?

Remember...this is more than cosmetic. Go to the TMJ message board on healthboards.com or ezboard.com and talk to people who have been dealing with this condition for years.