TMJ caused by dental malocclusion ? Posted: 01-18-08 20:55pm
I think i have TMJ, my mouth midlines are
asymmetrical. My lower jaw is deviated a
little to the left.
I'm wondering if any of you know if this
can be caused by a malocclusion? I mean,
that your teeth are positioned in a way
that when you close your mouth you have to
move it to one side?
I've read that most people have a
deviation of the jaw when opening it, but
when i open it it seems that it makes my
chin go to the middle, and when i close it
it deviates to the left...
Any input on this would be greatly
appreciated, thank you.
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catswold
Supporter
Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 404 Location: Flint, Michigan
Posted: 01-19-08 17:36pm
Hi Biani,
It's not really possible to answer your
question other than to say, it's a
possibility. It is common for many, if
not most, people to NOT be perfectly
symmetrical. But, you shouldn't have to
"shift" your bite when you close your
mouth either. Some people do, tho, and
are just fine with it. The lower jaw
deviation could just be your skeletal DNA
make-up or the results of an old injury to
your mouth or jaw. Does it mean you have
TMJ? I can't tell you that.
IMPORTANT QUESTION - Do you have any pain
or do you have problems with functioning
(eating)?
I don't believe that bite malocclusion is
the CAUSE of TMJ. It definitely plays a
big part tho. If a person’s stress
level increases and they clench or grind
their teeth while sleeping (many/most
people do), it may or may not cause TMJ,
but if the bite is poor or imbalanced,
that might push the body into TMJ or
temporomandibular joint dysfunction.
Your body might be used to having this
deviation, and if so, I wouldn't worry
about it. But if it starts to cause pain
or function problems, then you need to
take action.
Good questions. TMJ is a very interesting
and complicated "dysfunction." I hope and
pray that you are not experiencing any of
the adverse symptoms of TMJ. Take care.
God bless...
Carol
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Tmddyan
Moderator
Joined: 13 Jun 2006 Posts: 3951 Location: post falls, id usa
Thanks: 53
Thanked:42
Posted: 01-20-08 15:47pm
its very possible. A lot of people whith
tmj have mallocclusions. and it is
sometimes the cause.
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Biani
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 18 Jan 2008 Posts: 151 Location: ,
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Thanked:0
Posted: 01-21-08 16:03pm
thank you everyone. I don't experience any
pain, it's just an annoying pop when i
yawn and sometimes when i eat. Also, the
way i bite feels off, but i don't know if
i were to bite down where my lower jaw
aligns with my top one would make my jaw
muscles feel akward or tired.
It mostly bothers me because my whole
mouth looks crooked, like a little skewed
and pointing to the left. And my nose is a
little crooked too, but it points to the
right... so i kind of feel like a picasso
painting, and not in a good way! lol
So i guess i'm just wondering if it could
be as simple as getting braces to be able
to bite down the center and fix my facial
asymmetry a little...
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catswold
Supporter
Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 404 Location: Flint, Michigan
Posted: 01-22-08 11:01am
Braces is a possibility but make sure that
the orthodontist is more concerned with
balancing your bite, not necessarily
perfectly straight teeth.
God bless...
Carol
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thenumber12
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Dec 2007 Posts: 21 Location: , Los Angeles, CA
Posted: 01-22-08 16:19pm
catswold - had someone told me that before
I would've been a lot more picky with my
ortho. Too late =)
Biani - I think I can relate. Before
braces one side of my jaw made tiny,
barely audible clicking noises and I had a
crossbite (I think that's what it's
called) like Tom Cruise's teeth but not as
severe. Braces may have made it worse. My
ortho tried masking the problem by
shifting one side of the upper arch
inwards to conform to the lower which
caused major assymetry and tmj, but he
proved successful in matching my teeths
midlines. It might be a good idea to first
go to a tmj specialist then maybe that
dentist can work with your ortho to
achieve a balanced jaw.
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Tmddyan
Moderator
Joined: 13 Jun 2006 Posts: 3951 Location: post falls, id usa
Thanks: 53
Thanked:42
Posted: 01-22-08 16:27pm
most of the time ortho either creates tmd
or makes it worse
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Biani
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 18 Jan 2008 Posts: 151 Location: ,
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Posted: 01-22-08 19:31pm
I'm afraid to do anything about it, cause
i have read that ortho can make it worse
to a point where you can't open your
mouth, and at the same time it bugs me
everytime my jaw pops and when i see
myself in the mirror or in pictures and i
notice my mouth is so misaligned.
Thanks to everyone for their input.
I didn't know Tom Cruise had a crossbite,
he looks pretty normal to me...
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catswold
Supporter
Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 404 Location: Flint, Michigan
Posted: 01-22-08 21:13pm
Dyan, I must comment on your statement
using the word, "MOST." This is an
irresponsible claim to make. Thousands,
if not millions, of people over the years
have had orthodontic work and most of them
have NOT developed TMJ.
In my family which has several braces
alumni, I am the only one who developed
TMJ due to a multitude of factors - one,
because my lower jaw was not fully
developed. Another, my wisdom teeth came
in and completely changed my bite. And of
course, the biggest reason - STRESS. Now
that I've learned how to handle stress
much better and had my bite balanced, tho
I have DJD of both jaw joints, my TMJ is
pain-free most of the time (and that's
with NO surgeries).
As always, there are good, so-so and bad
orthodontists just like in all dental and
medical fields. We must do our homework
and find the best ortho before having
braces put on our precious teeth.
God bless...
Carol
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Tmddyan
Moderator
Joined: 13 Jun 2006 Posts: 3951 Location: post falls, id usa
Thanks: 53
Thanked:42
Posted: 01-23-08 16:27pm
every one that i know that has had ortho
from a regular ortho good or bad has ended
up with tmj problems--beleive me i do my
homework-- pms please
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