Can TMJ be fixed after a long period of time?

Question

I've had TMJ for about 3 and a half years now. I was 13 when i 1st had it now im 16. When i went to the an TMJ doctor, he told me to do some jaw exercise and eat soft food for a week, and if it doesn't heal by then he told me to come back and see him. I was young and stupid so i ignored it thinking TMJ wasn't such a serious problem. My jaw still cracks till this very day but since its been 3 years my jaw cracks so easily it doesnt hurt anymore. Now im scared my TMJ disorder can never be fixed. =( Any answers would be great because i was wondering if i should go back an ask to the TMJ doctor.

Answer 1

I have a friend going thru that right now. She's had it for a long time too. The doctor said she will have to sleep with a mouth piece for the rest of her life (assuming she grinds her teeth thus aggravating her TMJ). There is surgery for it that actually works.

She even went to a chiropractor and they said they could help her and it DID NOT WORK. She was told to STAY AWAY from chiropractors and that they could actually make it WORSE. :(

Good luck!

:)

Answer 2

I am a student at Palmer chiropractic school and we have been taught how to adjust TMJ. Many times an adjustment by a chiropractor can keep you from having to have surgery and can correct TMJ very quickly. TMJ is a very easy thing to correct with chiropractic and will save you from having to have expensive surgery and take medication for this simple problem. There has been plenty of research done with chiropractic on patients suffering from TMJ and chiropractic care has been indicate as the most effective noninvasive technique for correcting TMJ. I strongly suggest seeing a chiropractor as soon as possible so that this problem doesn’t progress any further.
Hope this helps and here is a site with research that you can read.
http://www.icpa4kids.org/research/chiropractic/tmj.htm

Answer 3

7 years ago I've been involved in a car wreck and even since suffered with severe on and off facial and jaw pain. I've tried almost everything western medicine had to offer and had visited countless of specialist, had done ct scans, and therapies but to no avail. The doctors I have been to had persisted that there wasn't anything wrong with me and that almost drove me crazy as I was going through hell from this condition. According to all my symptoms I was diagnosed by a holistic doctor as having TMJ and he had recommended this book to me. After following the recommendation in the book for several weeks, it had changed my life. I got immediate relief after following the unique set of exercises in the book and after 2 weeks the jaw and face pain had completely gone. I only wish I would have ordered this program years ago. It would have saved me a lot of pain and anguish.

Answer 4

You might want to consult a general dentist prior to seeing the TMJ specialist. Sometimes the noise you hear is caused by the piece of cartilage between the two bones in the joint-- it can slip in and out of place. Again, I would start with an evaluation of the joint by a general dentist. Then again, if you've got really good insurance benefits or loads of money, go straight to the specialist.

Answer 5

If it bothers you, have your parents take you to the doctor. Have them check their health/dental insurance first tho. Some policies specifically exclude treatment for TMJ. It's stupid and unfair, but it happens.

Answer 6

Really the dentists is right but after such a long period of time, the only solution may be surgery, sorry!!!!!!!

Answer 7

It can be fixed but you need to follow what the doctor says. Also, you also need to not eat hard things, chew gum or sleep on your stomach.

Are you gritting your teeth at night? If so you need a night guard.

Answer 8

yes and a dentist can advise you also