I've been having random clicks and locks
for a while now, but it was usually only
locked on one side (the right side) and
I've managed to force it back open so far.
I've also noticed that its also painful
for me to chew things that are a health
forum. I've been reading various sites on
the internet to find out what was wrong,
and its been bothering me quite a bit.
The last time I went to the dentist I was
already aware of the clicks and stiffness.
The dentist told me that it was because
the teeth were aligned perfectly on the
right side of my jaw, but there was quite
a big gap between the upper teeth and the
lower teeth on the left side, and that
I've overused the right side of my jaw and
caused it to be stiff and such.
Is this TMJ, and would getting braces fix
this problem? It's not so painful now and
there doesn't seem to be any other
problems like migraines or neck pain
(besides the clicking and locking and
occasional pains), so would it be okay if
I left it as it is?
Thanks in advance.
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jawjen
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 9
Hi Posted: 10-06-07 04:19am
Hi Mandee
I've been grinding my jaw for ten years --
went to a dentist once who half-heartedly
suggested a gum-guard to me; Because of
this 'perhaps maybe you should get a
gum-guard' approach I was turned off and
never went back to see him. Now I wish I
had not been so 'half-hearted' myself and
gone to see him that long time ago to get
a gum-guard!
It's not good to just let things slide. Do
something while you can, perhaps it will
get better on its own, perhaps not, I
wouldn't leave it to chance.
But, your decision
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jawjen
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 9
Hi Again Posted: 10-06-07 04:23am
sorry, I always do things too quickly ....
I have so much pain at times, including
head, facial, neck, shoulder and back pain
because of grinding my jaw, it's really
worth nipping it in the bud before it gets
a chance to get worse. I get dizzy even.
It's no good. I should have done something
about it ten years ago already.
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catswold
Supporter
Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 404 Location: Flint, Michigan
Posted: 10-06-07 16:47pm
Hi Mandee,
TMJ just means temporomandibular joint.
So, anything that involves the joint in
anyway can be called TMJ, or actually,
TMJD or TMD (D is for dysfunction). You
do sound like you have the basic symptoms
with the clicking and occasional pain.
The locking is not good and really none of
this should be left as it is.
Your bite balance, or how your teeth come
together evenly, is very important for
stability of just about your whole head
and body, believe it or not. It's
actually quite amazing. We don't have to
have straight teeth but we do need to have
that "balance."
If I were you, I would see a TMJ dentist.
The solution may be quite simple. Braces
are a possibility but if you are thinking
of getting them, I would recommend that
you see someone who practices Functional
Joint Orthotics. What they will do is
make a splint to get the bite balanced
first. This usually takes less than 6
months. After that, braces (or whatever
the next step would have been decided on
between you and the doc).
I pray that you find the help you need. I
have found in my case (and many others)
that the most difficult part of TMJ can be
to find a good TMJ specialist, so that is
my hope and prayer for you.
