TMJ Disorder

[LebanesePrincess_19]

can a headgear help with chronic tmj disorder or a splint if i don't want to do tmj n jaw surgery ??

[Tammy2009]

Depends on the person with what will work.  I've gone through two splints made by different dentist and now on the surgery/ortho route to get it fixed for forever (which does include a different type of splint).

The first splint I bit through in 2 nights but was wonderful, moved my jaw into a better position and took away about 80% of the symptoms for the two years I had it.  

I finally ground it down to nothing so my new dentist made a different one which is flat and useless!!  All it does is stop my teeth from grinding together, it doesn't do anything to move my jaw into a better position.  

The research I have done, the best splints are ones that are made with using jaw scanning and muscle testing to find the position where your jaw is the most relaxed.  

I believe headgear is used for certain reasons to guide the growth of the jaw in younger kids and teenagers.  Jaw surgery treatments, generally can not be done without the surgery.  

Talk to a couple differen orthodonists and oral surgerons to get a couple different approaches.  Each one will use a slightly different approach so you might get lucky and find a plan that you like.  

[orb4me]

I had TMJ for years, sometimes the pain was horrible.  I asked my husband is I ground my teeth at night, and he said that I did and a few other words lol.  I bought a football mouth guard at the drug store, followed the directions ( cut off the piece that sticks out, its easier so my lips would be ok)  the next morning, I was shocked to see that I had ground one side almost completly off.  So, I bought more, did the same thing every night for weeks if remember right.  I dont know why, but after a few weeks I didnt do it anymore and have not had TMJ issues for years and years.  Mouth guards seem to work the same way the expensive things do.  Its worth a try.