 | FAQ about TMD |
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- When my treatment is completed, will I be cured?
There are 40+ different types of TMD. Some can be cured; others can be managed. For all TMD patients, the first stage of treatment involves controlling TMJ-related pain and dysfunction for a period of time sufficient to determine stability. The second stage involves EITHER correcting the problem (if it can respond to a cure) OR managing it.
Our goal is to make each and every patient independent of us. And we prefer the least invasive, most simplistic approach possible to achieve maximum improvement and enhance your quality of life.
- Can I postpone or delay my treatment?
TMD is often progressive. The earlier it is diagnosed, the greater the likelihood TMD can be treated conservatively, relatively inexpensively, and without surgery! Early treatment of TMD can also help to prevent further damage to your jaw joint and its related structures.
Only you can make the decision that is right for you. To do so, we want you to know that waiting to begin treatment can have serious consequences, particularly if you are experiencing intermittent or continuous clicking and/or occasional locking. Once therapy has begun, delaying or canceling scheduled appointments can also compromise the success of your treatment.
Before making any decision to postpone or delay treatment, we strongly urge you to discuss the risks and benefits with a qualified dentist or another trusted healthcare provider.
- Why do I have to uncross my legs for you to mark and balance my appliance?
There are more than 2-dozen appliances available to treat TMD. To achieve maximum improvement, each appliance must be carefully customized and precision fit for each patient. When you cross your legs, it turns your pelvis, which, in turn, unbalances your entire skeletal and muscle alignment. To mark and balance your appliance correctly, your posture must be proper. (This is also why they ask you to uncross your legs whenever you get your hair cut!).
- Will I have to wear my appliance forever?
There is often no single cause of TMD and no two patients are alike. Our goal is to wean patients off daytime appliances rather than having to wear them indefinitely. However, any decision to reduce or eliminate the use of a daytime appliance can only be made after 6-months of active treatment has been completed.
We generally suggest that patients wear their nighttime appliance "forever," as a precautionary measure to prevent symptoms from reoccurring. This is because we all clench and grind our teeth to some extent when we sleep, which can put 2x - 3x the normal amount of pressure on your TMJ. Think of using your nighttime appliance like wearing a knee brace or taping your ankle when you play a sport. You do it to add stability and safeguard against further injury.
- Do I have to eat with my appliance?
The answer depends on the stability of your TMJ and the type of appliance that has been prescribed for you. More specifically:
If you are using a repositioner so that we can stabilize your joint and can control dysfunction, the answer is "Yes." Chewing puts tremendous stress on your TMJ, so it's important to wear your appliance whenever you eat. It may take a few days for you to get used it. However, eating with your repositioning appliance in place is critical to a successful outcome at this stage of your treatment.
If you are using a deprogrammer to manage your TMD, the answer is "No." You should not eat with a deprogramming appliance in place.
- Why is it important to do self-care at home while I'm undergoing treatment?
Patients spend significantly more time away from our office than they do with us. That's why the diet and exercises we outline for our patients under "self-care" are so important.
Self-care is an essential part of rehabilitating your jaw joint (just as it would be if you needed to rehabilitate your knee, your ankle or any other joint in your body). Through self-care, you'll learn about things you can things you can do (and things you should avoid) throughout your normal day to facilitate "healing." More specifically, self-care will help to enhance the effectiveness of therapies you receive at our office, so that you can regain mobility of a compromised jaw joint and restore full range of motion.
Self-care also helps to establish a "healing and wellness pattern," which will pave the way for you to manage your TMJ-related pain and dysfunction -- and sustain the results of treatment once completed - without having to continue to visit our office.
- Since I've been wearing my appliance, my teeth don't touch like they used to. Is this normal?
Yes, that is very normal but it's only temporary. The reason it happens is because of the changes in your jaw position that take place during treatment. In brief, your appliance teaches your muscles to close your jaw in a new position - a position that may not be aligned with your bite. After you complete your treatment, we will slowly reduce the amount of time you use your day appliance and your bite will return to normal. In some cases, orthodontics may be needed but this is not true for the vast majority of our patients.
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Hours |
Mon. - Thurs.
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Friday
8 a.m. - noon
(Business Office open only)
Call us at
405.321.8030
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