Can anyone help with my TMJ problem?

Question

I have TMJ really bad. Sometimes my jaw pops out of place when I yawn.I have horrible headaches and jaw pain. I've also suffered with ringing ears and hearing loss. The problem has just been getting worse and I know it's time to get it fixed. I have two problems:I need to find a dentist that works with patients that can't open their mouths wide and also I need to find a dentist who will finance any work I need done to correct the TMJ. Any suggestions? I live in Cleveland, Ohio

Answer 1

If finances are a great concern, consider visiting the dental school at Case Western in Cleveland. I think Dr. Clifford Fox is still there and he is an internationally known authority on TMJ disorders.

Answer 2

A long time ago I had a bad case of TMJ. My regular dentist (he's the best!) fitted a plastic type retainer (molded to my mouth with a gel and then fashioned into a harder plastic) to use during the day and at night. It fits over the lower teeth. I wore it for several weeks and the TMJ slowly went away. Now if stress is bad and the TMJ comes back, I just pop in the retainer at night and again the pain goes away. No surgery - just a way for the joints to not press together during the night when I am probably gritting my teeth.

Answer 3

I suffered with this for many years. The only thing that helped was a splint my dentist made for me to wear at night to protect my teeth. The chiropracter helped tremendously as long as I went at least 3 times a week. I learned that I cannot sleep with my arms over my head, or sleep on my stomach. Puts too much stress on the head and neck. TMJ is not just a jaw problem, you have to figure out what works best for you.

By the way, I hardly ever have flare ups with the TMJ now. I wear my splint everynight, I occassionally get my spine adjusted and I changed my behavior with how I slept.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU!

Answer 4

Why do you think this joint problem is a dental problem? Have you been evaluated by a Chiropractor that specializes in TMJ disorders?

Before I retired from practice as a Chiropractor I treated many patients like you. Some had been to the UCLA Dental School TMJ clinic and received no benefit from their treatments. One of my last patients before I retired, had a serious problem with her TMJ and her maxillo-facial surgeon wanted $15,000 to surgically 'fix' her problem. She left my office after 10 minutes with a big smile on her face and I had $32 in my pocket! Obviously, not all cases have this type of dramatic response, but many cases are successfully managed with proper biomechanical treatments.

Find a good Chiropractor. Best wishes.

Answer 5

Sometimes dentists don't know what to do. I have severe TMJ as well. I can tell you what I do in the event it can help you. Dentists usually make a mouthguard and send you on your way and lots of times it doesn't help. They can make hard ones or soft ones.

What I do is go to a chiropractor to set the joint, massage therapist to work the muscles, I chew gum and do jaw exercises, one is to open your mouth slightly and take your hands and gently put them in your mouth, fingers behind front bottom teeth, now gently pull your lower jaw forward. That helps stretch the muscles. You can try physical therapy, they would do tens or ultrasound on the jaw, I do that periodically. Moist heat on the neck, temple and jaw alternating ice and heat. Massage the jaw muscles and temples, around the ears as much as you can. You can use products such as biofreeze, sombra, numbing agents. Take anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen. In the shower, let warm water hit the jaw. Neck exercises like forward flexion, backward extension and side to side rotations help. Forward flexion is trying to touch your chin to chest. Backward extension is looking up as far as you can, and side to side rotations is trying to touch your ears to your shoulders. Be sure you moisturize your jaw, rub creams in to keep the skin soft and looser. Do "blow out" exercises. How you do that is pretend you are blowing bubbles from a wand. That movement helps you to not clench. You can try the mouth guards. Also there is a pain cream ket10gaba5lido10(247) that helps big time with the muscles, it's a special order mix that the dentist can prescribe. Another good exercise is touching your tongue to the roof of your mouth, it's impossible to clench your jaw muscles while doing that.

Answer 6

A regular dentist will not be able to help you much with your TMJ, you will need to look for a maxofacial surgeon, a surgeon will be better able to advise you what needs to be done to correct your problem, be it surgery to replace your jaw joint or something as simple as a bite splint.

Answer 7

Dental surgery is very cheap in India.There is one company that is very famous in India that arranges all types of surgery for foreigners in India.They are called the Forerunners Healthcare.I read a lot about them in the Newspapers and about their patient stories.

I have also read that they arrange financing for american and canadian patients as all surgery is not covered by insurance.They also have photos pasted of their International patients.You can checkout their website.The cost savings are incredible.As a doctor i personally believe that your TMJ surgery can be easily handled in India as the quality of healthcare available here is simply best in the world.The surgeons are USA/UK trained and facilities are 5 star.

My cousin got her sons maxillo facial surgery in India through the forerunners healthcare .SHe is more than very happy with the results.She just paid 25% of the amount she was quoted in USA and is all praise for this forerunners healthcare company.hope this helps

http://www.forerunnershealthcare.com

Answer 8

Well this is basically research you need to do yourself call a dentist and talk to the receptionist about your problem.

Answer 9

call 1 800 dentist and ask that question

Answer 10

chiropracters are good for tmj.
good luck