TMJ Alternative Treatments

I have suffered with TMJ for over a decade. My dentist first mentioned it to me before my son was born. He didn't offer any treatment, so I figured it was no big deal. All I knew about the subject was that my jaw "clicked". How bad could it be, right?
HOW WRONG I WAS!
Since then, I have become much better educated! I learned that my debilitating headaches weren't migranes, but a result of this TMJ! I learned what TMJ really is. First what do those letters stand for? TMJ actually stands for Temporo-Mandibular Joint. This is the joint between your upper and lower jaw bones. A disfuntion of this joint can cause extreme discomfort and irrepairable damage to the jaw itself.

What are some signs?

Clenching
Grinding
Popping sound while chewing
Headaches
Jaw pain
If you notice these signs, talk to your dentist! He may recommend the use of a Nightguard . Or they may make one specially designed to fit your mouth. This is helpful if you grind your teeth at night. They may also discuss seeing a chiropractor.

In extreme instances, such as mine, surgery may be discussed. The surgery involves breaking the jaw and resetting it. Your mouth is then wired shut for a few months to heal. I then discussed this option with my physician. We didn't like the success rates, so we opted to check out an Orthodontist.

Orthodontist, you may be saying? Aren't they the ones who put braces on teenagers? Well, yes, they are! And they are the ones who put braces on me at 32 years old! Apparently, braces are a viable solution to the issue of TMJ. And they have a very high success rate (in the 80% range). However, they are very costly. And even after submitting referrals and fighting with both my medical and dental insurance companies, I did have to pay out of pocket to the tune of $7000.

I just had the braces removed after 18 months. I now have a retainer. Was it worth it? Well, I will be brutally honest- Braces as an adult HURT ALOT! But, keep in mind, they were moving my JAW, not just my teeth, so the pain was expected. I do get many fewer headaches and the intensity isn't what it used to be. I do have some irrepairable damage, I mentioned earlier. My damage is in the effect of a dime sized hole I wore out on my jaw bone. Bone cannot be replaced, so it'll always be there.

But, all in all, YES- I do believe going the route of braces was worth the pain and expense in the long run.

If you have been diagnosed with TMJ, do your homework! Get ALL of your options. And do not wait, as I did for treatment!

I hope this has helped at least one fellow sufferrer!

I have suffered with TMJ for over 10 years. Finally after headaches would keep me down for days, I sought help. There was irrepairable damage at this point. Don't let this happen to you!

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