TMJ Help

I have the same problem. I also have an awesome dentist. Get this, he made me a set of invisable braces (a set for the top & bottom, they are like a clear retainer for the teeth0. I put them in every night now. I haven't had a migraine in over a year-no more chipped teeth either.
Yes, they are comfortable. With the other mouth peices we had tried they were very uncomfortable & I couldn't wear them all night.
Let me know if you want my Dr. name
Good Luck
Cyndi

J., my name is Dr. Rick Semlow. I am a chiropractor in Troy. I have hepled many with TMJ problems. Feel free to call my office if you have any questions. ###-###-####

Wow. I can't believe this message came up. I just happened to move to Freeland and have some advise for you!
I was told I would have had TMJ by the time I turned 30 if I did not have jaw surgery. I turned 30 this year. I had the surgery when I was 16. It changed my life. I had a good experience and it fixed my problem. At the time, I met a woman who waited until she was 30. She had lost almost all of her back teeth. She too was happy with the results. It is hard to be wired shut for 6-9 wks, but in the end you will feel better about your mouth. I also had my anoids removed because I didn't breath properly. I hope this helps. Good luck.

J.,

I have TMJ also and have worn a bite splint for many, many years. I haven't looked into chiropractic for that specifically, but wanted to e-mail you about NCR. It is an alternative medicine and not for everyone, but may be worth looking into, especially if surgery is something you want as your last option. I have not done it yet, but am considering it for this summer, I'm tired of my jaw aching so much every day. I have a girlfriend that has done it with a doctor who is in ohio and is very happy with the results. You can look it up at ncrdoctors.org. Just a thought!!

N.

You must have a very severe case. I have TMJ as well and went to a dentist (not even an ortho, just a regular dentist(up in Howell who fit me with a rather extensive appliance too. It helped a great deal, but didn't correct the problem. It also cracked.
I was also told that braces or surgery were options left to the future. But as my case isn't as bad as yours sounds, I haven't done anything with it for years. My jaw still pops. But I have other issues that take precedence.

My chiro would occasionally 'adjust' my jaw. But the scoliosis is usually more referred to with the back. This is a first reference I've heard it for the jaw.
good luck

Hello, I am going to suggest the same as some of the previous responses and seeing a chiropractor or cranio sacral therapist before considering surgery. I really think the cranio massages and manipulations would work. Hope all works out for you. Take care.

I had TMJ years ago from a sports injury. My jaw would lock regularly and hurt a lot. I did all the braces and stuff that the dentist and oral surgeons I saw recommended with zero success. I finally saw a chiropractor and in one visit he was able to fix the problem. I would definitely try a reputable chiropractor and/or the physical therapy route before going through any surgery (and I'm a surgeon!)

If you do end up considering surgery, make sure you ask how many patients like you he/she's operated on and what level of improvement they've seen so you have a realistic idea of what to expect.

Good luck!

Hi J.---I too, would recommend craniosacral therapy and chiropractic before undergoing something so extreme as surgery. Having said that, I know that you've been suffering a long time and that you may not want to wait for the time such therapies may take for healing. The rate at which your body heals itself could be quick or take some time.

There is a great chiropractor who does not 'crack' the spine, located in Birmingham on Adams. His name is Dan Judge and I think he's a good one to check out. His focus in on the atlas, the first vertebrae at the skull. I think it's called upper cervical chiropractic. I have TMJ caused by a nerve/muscle problem and I think I'm seeing a change in the month I've been seeing Dr. Judge.

I also receive craniosacral therapy from Michelle Mintz in W. Bloomfield. Her office in on Maple, just east of Orchard Lake Road.

Let me know if you'd like phone numbers. I'd be happy to help. Good luck. D. ###-###-####

I have had the surgery,years ago. and I also had braces. You actually need them first and then the surgery comes after. I never had any complications from either. I had a great Dr who was located down in Huntington Woods, I think his name was Gall. Its been awhile since I had the surgery, but it definitely worked for me. both of my jaws has been broken and moved forward an inch. but once you get used to them with the surgery it is OK. Good luck and God Bless.

I had TMJ for years and finally someone suggested I see a physical therapist - I thought what are they going to do? But it helped - through various massage techniques and heat applications the muscles adjusted and let the jaw readjust and I haven't had a problem in years. In fact it has been so long I don't remember all the details - it was downtown by St Mary's I think and I went for about 6 months. It is worth talking to your dentist about or one who specializes in TMJ. Good luck.

Hi, Sorry about your TMJ, I have had it for over 2o years from a broken jaw in car accident I had when I was a child, I have had to have my jaw broke and realigned 3 times now. Prior to this last surgery I wore braces for 2 years and then had the surgery to repostiion my jaw, I no longer have the clicking,popping or locking. I do wear a ortho at night since I seem to clench very bad and it does help. I have a wonderfull Dr. that may be able to help you if your intrested, If you know your going to have the surgery and have detailed questions feel free to email me anytime.

I used to have pretty nasty TMJ. I started seeing a Chiropractor and a Cranio Sacral Therapist.

No more TMJ.

I worked in an oral surgeon's office and Dr. Bonine in Brighton is a wonderful surgeon, so I would definitely refer you to that office. He could fix anything regarding mouth problems. He does incredible work and has trained (is training) the best at U of M. He has all these pictures hanging in his office of people's faces/jaws that he has re-constructed and corrected. You can just go for a consultation to see what he says.

J.,
I have had TMJ most all of my life in 1988 at 19 I was official told of my problem. I have had just about every splint you can imagine and braces. The braces worked for a few years the splints work OK. Two years ago I was down to the surgery I was jumping for joy that it was being suggested till I looked into it.
first off it is a one year wait at U or M just to have an evaluation then most every insurance company does not cover it. I started to see a new dentist at the time and inquired about the surgery he highly discourages it. Why you wonder because his wife has had THREE surgeries to correct her TMJ and now she is in constant pain and can only open her mouth 1/4 of the way. He knows of many people who have very little success with the surgery. It is all a guessing game even after all these years.
My solution my chriopractor of all people at first he even suggested the surgery he had adjusted my jaw a couple of times and he wasn't sure it was helping it has been two years and things are 100 time better. I can go weeks and months without a major flair up. Mine is the worse case two dentist and my chriopractor have ever seen. I have broken three retainers (splints) I can spit most of them out in my sleep. I have finally found one I only spit out once in awhile I have had it for three years but it has about had it. I have cracked it and worn it down to almost nothing.
What do I do to keep it in check well first I try to avoid stress (that is hard to do), I DO NOT chew gum or any foods that require that much work by the jaw. Massaging the jaw at the hinge and the muscle that go up to the top of your head (where you headaches are), basically I limit anything that will stress the muscles but talking (LOL) but I have also found that can help there are other stretching exercises that help. I also have found positions I can hold my jaw in to relax the muscles and relieve the pain.
Really look into the surgery and try everything you can before you do it. Take it from someone who knows what you are going through and really feels your pain.

Have you tried a chiropractor?

I had a problem with TMJ a couple years ago and my chiropractor said he could help. I was skeptical, but it worked. May not for everyone, but it's worth a try. I would call around to make sure you find someone with experience and success treating TMJ.

I have TMJ. I had the bite splint for several years and it helped reduce my headaches but because of the way my teeth lined up without the splint, I had to get braces. I am about halfway done with braces and depending on how things change with my bite, I may or may not need surgery. I can recommend a great orthodontist in Sterling Heights if you are interested!!!

Hi J.,
I too had TMJ years ago. I started out going to a Chiropracter & yes it did help, but I did not want to spend the rest of my life going to a Chiropractor for my TMJ. So when I turned about 15 I had the surgery with awesome results! My jaw feels great (no more adjustments!) and my teeth and jaw look fabulous! I don't ever regret my decision! I also had a severe case and feel your pain! And post surgery wasn't pretty, but it sure was worth it in the end! Only a couple of weeks of recovery & I felt like a brand new person (with a beautiful smile!). Good luck to you in whatever you may decide.

I would recommend a chiropractor or a massage therapist first-- both are trained in techniques that can lengthen and strengthen the muscles and tendons that surround your temporomandibular joint. If it wasn't caused by surgery (many people's jaw problems are a result of too-early or just erroneous jaw surgery to 'fix' problems unrelated to the TMJ), either of these should work, and fairly quickly.

Often the problem is one of habitual, unconscious muscle-tension -- maybe not exactly a result of stress, but now made much worse by it. Sometimes it's a direct result of poor posture (head thrust forward, for one) and other times it's actually caused by uneven-length legs (the compensation for which carries all the way up the body and ends up with muscle tension in the neck and face). Sometimes, specific exercises can help, particularly in learning to identify and intentionally tense and relax the stressed muscles. Things like yoga, biofeedback, the Alexander technique and sometimes physiotherapy (although mostly I think those guys are just mean) may help.

I'm all for the non-surgical solutions, whenever there is one -- particularly when no one has any idea what the cause is. It's unlikely that surgery or braces will fix the problem any better than your wildly-overpriced retainer did. (I've never seen a retainer cost more than a grand!) All of these (surgery, braces and the retainer) look like 'treat the symptom' from here.

I didn't see this response and your situation maybe different, but I suffered with TMJ for years. One day I had a tooth really bothering me and my dentist first response was I might need a root canal but first he wanted to check my bite. HE realized my teeth were actually only touching in about 2-3 spots along my jaw rather than top and bottom jaw nestle together like they should be and one spot was the exact spot that was bothering me. His idea was to file down my teeth a little over 2-3 office visits to get the teeth beter aligned. He said I was probably grinding my teeth at night because our bodies sometimes try to correct these problems on their own with grinding but what would take about 20 years to grind down in my sleep he could do in his office and he did. It didn't hurt it was quick and the end result was no more pain, no root canal and the best part my TMJ was gone. No more locked jaw when I ate a big sandwich or terrible clicking that drove me nuts sometimes and years later my teeth are just fine and still nestled comfortable together. Hope this helps.

Have you considered going to a chiropractor?
Sometimes TMJ is caused by clenching your teeth at night or even when you are awake and don't even realize it. Clenching your teeth can be caused by a calcium deficiency. It is all connected. Letting it go too long can cause damage to your jaw and its moving parts. Go to www.ahccenter.com
This is a group of chiropractor/clinical nutritionists who can help solve all kinds of issues. Check out the website or give them a call. They are in Grosse Point.

My TMJ started several years ago, but I only really noticed it when my jaw kept locking and popping just a few years ago. My dentist wanted to fit me with a night guard to cut down on grinding, and also referred me to a jaw surgeon as a last result. I saw online a website (can't recall the name now) that suggested the following book: Taking Control of TMJ: Your Total Wellness Program for Recovering from Tempromandibular Joint Pain, Whiplash, Fibromyalgia, and Related Disorders by Robert O. Uppgaard
I purchased mine at Borders, but it's on Amazon, too. There are a variety of exercises to strengthen the jaw and help with alignment. It helped immensely! I, too, was afraid of surgery. The nightguard helped minimally.