Update....

Ok, I went to a neuro muscular dentist, new one for me, and he did a check of the extraction site and said it lookef absolutely fine. He did push on it...which I didnt like. It didnt hurt but I wasnt expecting him to do that and not sure why he did. Anyway, he said no infection all fine. THEN he did the Myofacial Pain Dysfunction or whatever "test" and boy, do I have some pain when he did the manual tests. There are more tests to be done but he thinks I will need a lower splint and possibly braces. My bite is off and he showed me how if I made my bite right, it would feel better....and it did. He did say he didnt see a lot of wearing on my teeth but more signs of clenching. He said that clenching isnt good, as we know, and that this issue needs to be addressed. So......now I have another issue? I mean, I am glad that the extraction site is healing and all but wow.....I dont TMJ or Myofacial problems either. Any thoughts????

I go back next week for more testing on a computer and such??? And then the device is made and I need to wear it all the time for 90 days or so.

Good grief!!

Hi Kris,

Ok, so the dentist pressed on the extraction site to get a feel for how the bone was filling in and to make sure the site didn't feel mushy. Obviously, it felt fine and so that is one less thing for you to be concerned about.

Did this dentist take xrays of any kind?

Your TMJ problem may not be as severe as you're thinking. Anytime you have a chronic bruxing or clenching habit, you are going to test positive to the testing for pain because the muscle and ligaments are overworked from the habit and they will be sore. So that pain that you felt does not necessarily indicate the severity of the problem.

Before you undergo his recommended treatment, get a second opinion if possible. When it comes to Orthodontia, it is not a one size fits all treatment and it needs to be tailored to the individual patient. I would also get 2-3 opinions on ortho too when the time comes. I know this sounds like alot, but the treatment options can vary a lot and it's a long commitment from you.

Bryanna




QUOTE=KrisPPP;840262]Update....

Ok, I went to a neuro muscular dentist, new one for me, and he did a check of the extraction site and said it lookef absolutely fine. He did push on it...which I didnt like. It didnt hurt but I wasnt expecting him to do that and not sure why he did. Anyway, he said no infection all fine. THEN he did the Myofacial Pain Dysfunction or whatever "test" and boy, do I have some pain when he did the manual tests. There are more tests to be done but he thinks I will need a lower splint and possibly braces. My bite is off and he showed me how if I made my bite right, it would feel better....and it did. He did say he didnt see a lot of wearing on my teeth but more signs of clenching. He said that clenching isnt good, as we know, and that this issue needs to be addressed. So......now I have another issue? I mean, I am glad that the extraction site is healing and all but wow.....I dont TMJ or Myofacial problems either. Any thoughts????

I go back next week for more testing on a computer and such??? And then the device is made and I need to wear it all the time for 90 days or so.

Good grief!![/QUOTE]

Bryanna,

Who can I trust? One dentist tells me severe grinding the other tells me he doesnt see signs of that but does think I am clenching since I have some small "notches" on the top part of my gums and small cracks in my front teeth. One dentist tells me --nope, not TMJ and this one says....wow, you have something going on, let's do more testing and then bottom appliance and then most likely braces. UGH! I do know "something" is going on with my mouth, but the discomfort is minimal these days. I have more tension in my neck and pressure in my left ear than anything. I guess that can be clenching/TMJ related though. It is all so confusing to me. I feel like I dont trust ANY of these dentists. I know you are in the field, so I dont mean any disrespect but just feel so lost!!! Plus, this is all costing a small fortune. Can "sore" TMJ joints resolve themselves with rest and hot/cold compresses? He said my bite is an overbite, small, and needs to be fixed. My bite has always been this way. Do you think maybe since the tooth is gone and shifting is taking place, that that is causing my mouth to be sore due to trying to find a new bite? Again, my pain is much better....it was more pressure really than pain. I am wondering if this is just all stress.......good grief!

Bryanna, Any thoughts? Can this ear pressure in my left ear be TMJ or related to the extraction? The pressure was there before the tooth was pulled -- along with some cheek/sinus pressure but the dentist thought it was the wisdom tooth so it was pulled.
Can TMJ be resolved with rest of jaw and the night guard? Maybe I should stick with these conservative measures first??? I was thinking maybe another ENT to just check my ear to see if maybe an eustachian tube issue? Your thoughts???

Thanks~

Kris

Kris,

Your statement... <<Can "sore" TMJ joints resolve themselves with rest and hot/cold compresses? >>>
No, not if you have a chronic, ongoing grinding or clenching habit.

<<I have more tension in my neck and pressure in my left ear than anything. I guess that can be clenching/TMJ related though. >>
Yes, it absolutely can.

<<He said my bite is an overbite, small, and needs to be fixed. My bite has always been this way.>>
If you have any wear on your teeth and/or recession along the gum line (notches) then you have a chronic habit of some sort. So the "it's always been this way" only means that you didn't know about the progression of your habit.

<< Do you think maybe since the tooth is gone and shifting is taking place, that that is causing my mouth to be sore due to trying to find a new bite? >>
Were you using this wisdom tooth to chew with or was it crooked and not inline with your actual bite? If you are noticing only slight changes with your teeth shifting, then that is very normal and should not be significant enough to alter your bite.

Bryanna

Kris,

<< Can this ear pressure in my left ear be TMJ or related to the extraction>>
Both ... either/or.

<<The pressure was there before the tooth was pulled -- along with some cheek/sinus pressure but the dentist thought it was the wisdom tooth so it was pulled. >>
Indicative of a chronic grinding and/or clenching habit. Removing the crooked wisdom tooth resolved some of the pressure.... as you have stated many times that the pressure is very slight... more uncomfortable/annoying than anything else.

<<Can TMJ be resolved with rest of jaw>>
Sometimes, yes it can... but only if you don't have a chronic habit of grinding or clenching your teeth.
<<and the night guard?>>
Will help reduce the wear and recession on the teeth and give the TMJ joints a rest during episodes of grinding or clenching.

<<Maybe I should stick with these conservative measures first???>>
You could try a night guard for a few weeks and see if that helps.

<< I was thinking maybe another ENT to just check my ear to see if maybe an eustachian tube issue?>>
If you think you need to have the eustachian tube checked, then do that.

Bryanna

Bryanna,

I am miserable. I do not know who or WHERE to turn. The neuro muscular dentist says TMJ, get bottom splint, then caps or braces. When I read about TMJ, I read NOT to do anything that will irreversably alter your bite. UGH! I am so upset. I have pressure in my left ear -- on/off and sometimes a burning behind my left eye. I keep thinking sinus or allergy and maybe not TMJ? I am still worried about a jawbone infection from this stupid upper left wisdom tooth extraction. All day long, I am so careful NOT to clench my teeth. I have even been eating softer foods. At night, I am sleeping on back, versus side or tummy since I read to do that -- if TMJ. I just dont know what to do. I am so tired of having PRESSURE in this left side of my face! ENT says no sinus infection and I keep saying I need to get a second opinion but there are only so many hours in a day and I have kids and a job! UGH! I also still need to get that damn cavity fixed but am just afraid of everything right now -- medical or dental. Today, I need some neck stretches and net pot and steam and my nose seemed to clear up and pressure gone. But within a few hours....BOOM, back again!

So...sinus? Allergies? TMJ, Cavity? Jaw bone infection? Healing? This is really been a long road.....

I think I have dry socket ... I have white stuff on my gums and there's a hole with white pieces ...I slept with my gall in and I think I actually pulled the blood clot out when I took the gall out the next day ...it don't hurt right now bt it tingle in my jaw and the tooth socket is sore on the outside

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Yonna,

It looks like there may be some pieces of the tooth still in the area of the oral surgery. I think you should make an appointment to see your dentist.

Bryanna

Your talkin.about the one in the back right and not the one closer to.the front .. I kno the one closer to.the front still have a tooth in.it cuz I broke it today bt I'm talkin about the one in the back ?? I was reading other websites and they said they see the bone ..and I thought tht was the bone tht I was lookin at ...Idk I jus don't want to.have.dry socket ..I heard a lot of bad things about it and thank u.for responding :-)