Oral Health and Dental Issues Support Group
You only have one set of teeth for life, so take good care of them. This is the place to discuss oral and dental care, good practices, dental office experiences, and general thoughts around those pearly whites.
Hello everyone i have been having alot of jaw pain with sometimes headaches i have been diagnosed with arthritis a few years ago do anyone know anything about tmj if so can you give me some info it has been very difficult to get in to see a specialist thank you
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Hello everyone, I haven't been online in a while, but I just feel that I need to vent tonight with someone I've been in a relationship with a guy since 2013 and everything was fine when we first got together, but it's like the last four years things has been kind of rocky. We were going to get married once we went for the license and everything but the six months expired so we never got married...
I had severe TMJ issues as a teenager (my jaw would lock open and sometimes shut for up to a day at a time). Eventually, I went to an orthodontist who specialized in using orthodontics to alleviate jaw pain whilst improving one's bite. I had a Herbst appliance, braces, a palate extender, and elastics on my teeth.
The Herbst was the appliance that made the difference in my jaw pain. It aligned my jaw and set it firm, thus helping me to experience no pain or jaw popping or headaches. I have attached a link to an article about the Herbst appliance. The article is written by a board certified orthodontist. (Link about Herbst: http://www.orthocenters.org/appliances.php)
I found that going the route of orthodontic treatment before committing to other invasive forms of treatment was best for my situation. Ten years later (my braces and Herbst came off around 2008), I am glad I made this choice.
When the Herbst comes off you have to commit to no jaw stretching activities (e.g. no gum chewing; no hard candy, etc.), but the rewards have been wonderful. I still have some residual pain when the weather turns cold, but a little jaw massage and warm towels on my jaw and neck and the pain is gone. I most definitely did not have this experience prior to the Herbst setting my jaw in alignment.
Finally, I would add this: please do not think you must live day to day with this pain unmitigated. Oral health is a fundamental part of our overall health quality and when it suffers other organ systems can suffer as well. I work in a hospital as a tech and I have seen doctors look for evidence of disease in the mouth first and then follow the disease pathway to other organs.
Best Wishes on your search :)
Link about Herbst: http://www.orthocenters.org/appliances.php