My dentist scares me

2_B_A_WIFE · December 2010

If you remember, I was having migraine troubles a while ago. Well, it's been almost 2 weeks now since they started and it's not getting much better. I'll have a few hours a day that are pain free. I went to the dentist today, thinking maybe it is my teeth bothering me. Turns out it is my teeth. I have something called tempromandibular joint disorder. Basically, he tells me all the muscles in my joints and mouth are tightened right up causing a ton of pressure in my head and neck, and also why my jaw keeps popping and locking. They are going to fit me for an appliance (I know, awesome right?) and if that doesn't help he's going to send me to a specialist and suggest surgery. I've read up a lot about this, even before I went to the dentist, and am sooo scared to have this surgery. I am praying the appliance will help. Hopefully the headaches and migraines will go away. It's been almost 2 years since I've had a headache free day. I've got my fingers crossed! I think the next time I go to the dentist, I'll have him pull all my teeth and just give me dentures. Then I don't have to go back.

Sorry this got long, I've got some pain killers and have noticed I've gotten really yappy tonight as a result.

Ciaram22 · December 2010

I don't have that issue but my dentist scares me too. When I was a kid I was told that my lower jaw was offset from my upper and the only way to fix it was to break it and reset it in the proper position. I'm so sorry you have to go through this. Why are dentists so scary.

thecarrotflower · December 2010

I have TMJ disorder as well. They thought it would get better once they pulled my wisdom teeth, it didn't. I don't have an appliance, they offered it I didn't feel it was mandatory. I have found keeping away from certain things that aggravate it is really all I need to do. I no longer chew gum...I hold the bottom of my mouth when I yawn, I don't eat whole apples...I cut them first things like that. That said, if you are getting migraines so severely I'd say an appliance is necessary and hopefully it works to get rid of those.

2_B_A_WIFE · December 2010

thecarrotflower:
I have TMJ disorder as well. They thought it would get better once they pulled my wisdom teeth, it didn't. I don't have an appliance, they offered it I didn't feel it was mandatory. I have found keeping away from certain things that aggravate it is really all I need to do. I no longer chew gum...I hold the bottom of my mouth when I yawn, I don't eat whole apples...I cut them first things like that. That said, if you are getting migraines so severely I'd say an appliance is necessary and hopefully it works to get rid of those.

I was told to avoid anything too crunchy, chewy, hard, etc. Not a problem for me since I can barely open my mouth to eat anyways. I can't stop clenching my teeth no matter how hard I try unless I constantly think about it. I can't wait to get this thing fitted for my mouth and feel "normal" again. Does your jaw pop all the time? Do you get lock jaw a lot? Once mine locks, I have no idea how to get it unstuck. I have forced my mouth closed a few times and it feels like I'm about to break my face. I know it's not right but I don't know what else to do.

sushisamba · December 2010

You've gotten some great advice already. I don't have much to add, just that I hope you get some relief soon, without having to resort to surgery. I can't imagine having a migraine for that long. ((hugs))

ring_pop · December 2010

That sounds awful. I had TMJ briefly once and it sucked. Hope the appliance will help and you feel better without surgery!

rxbeth · December 2010

I have TMJ disorder as well. My jaw clicks so loud every time I open my mouth and I'm pretty self conscious about it. I don't have much pain with the clicks since I got fitted for a night guard 2 years ago. But I never really had problems at all with locking, though. I would defintely try the night guard and lifestyle advice you've gotten so far. Good luck!

2_B_A_WIFE · December 2010

Thanks everyone. I definitely have changed my lifestyle a lot, I will be following all the advice I've been given so far. If he tells me I need surgery I'll be getting a second or third opinion. The dentist did tell me to use a warm facecloth and I've been avoiding a lot of foods and have been taking ibuprofen twice a day. I'm starting to notice a little bit of relief and with time I think it may go away all together.

thecarrotflower · December 2010

DonnaKatherine:
thecarrotflower:
I have TMJ disorder as well. They thought it would get better once they pulled my wisdom teeth, it didn't. I don't have an appliance, they offered it I didn't feel it was mandatory. I have found keeping away from certain things that aggravate it is really all I need to do. I no longer chew gum...I hold the bottom of my mouth when I yawn, I don't eat whole apples...I cut them first things like that. That said, if you are getting migraines so severely I'd say an appliance is necessary and hopefully it works to get rid of those.
I was told to avoid anything too crunchy, chewy, hard, etc. Not a problem for me since I can barely open my mouth to eat anyways. I can't stop clenching my teeth no matter how hard I try unless I constantly think about it. I can't wait to get this thing fitted for my mouth and feel "normal" again. Does your jaw pop all the time? Do you get lock jaw a lot? Once mine locks, I have no idea how to get it unstuck. I have forced my mouth closed a few times and it feels like I'm about to break my face. I know it's not right but I don't know what else to do.

My jaw does pop fairly regularly. I sometimes massage the area where the joint meets and that seems to help. My lock jaw was bad for a while but has been better recently. I do find it gets worse when I am really stressed out. On the whole I just really try to keep my jaw as relaxed as possible and massaging really does seem to help for me. I sometimes force it to pop back and it makes a lovely cracking noise but, it hasn't seemed to do much damage.

My dentist scares me

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