I'm a bit disappointed. I tried to wear the appliance again last night and I just couldn't sleep with it in. It's not like it is uncomfortable like pressing on teeth or anything, it just that my lower teeth rest on it and it's a very uncomfortable feeling to have then constantly touching something when I guess I'm used to sleeping with them apart. Also, wearing it makes the muscles in my face ache.

I don't know if I just have to wear it for longer and longer each night to get used to it or if I just can't wear it at all? I wonder if a lower one (this is an upper) or another type might be better? Or do some people never get used to them?

I left the TMJ doctor a message but I'm not sure what they can do, I know my insurance will only cover one appliance per year.

If I can't live with this appliance, do you think doing acupuncture, massage, other stress reduction might be enough to stop the night clenching? When I was getting acupuncture yesterday I was half asleep and actually was concious enough to feel my jaws slam shut!

Hi nukuspot,

The appliance feels weird because it is a hard plastic and probably a bit bulky. If you are a nocturnal clencher, your teeth are not separated when you fall asleep they are actually use to being clenched together as you sleep. You will still clench with the appliance but the appliance is meant to prevent your clenching from ruining your teeth. It will not stop the habit because it does not address the underlying cause of the problem. The habit is muscular related and it most often stems from stress. I'm not sure if you were aware of all of that, so that's why I'm mentioning it.

If wearing it makes the muscles in your face ache, then that is a pretty good indicator that you are in fact clenching. If you were not clenching, then the muscles would be relaxed and your teeth would automatically be apart with or without the appliance. You may be going to sleep with your teeth apart, if you were to deliberately take note of that, and then after you fall asleep you clench. Or you may unconsciously clench your teeth as you are drifting off to sleep. Tight masseter muscles indicate a bruxism habit. Can you see the pattern of how that goes?

There are alternatives to wearing this appliance and they all have to do with stress reduction and muscle relaxing.

Take a look at this video concerning tmj/tmd discussed by two experts. I think it is well worth your time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0xkJNF0l_E

I totally see from your links and words how important it is to take care of the TMJ and underlying cause. I'm making a trip to see the TMJ doctor after the holiday to see if he can help fix the splint into something easier to handle.

I'm writing again with another confounding question...for the last 2 days I've been tasting a very salty taste when I run my tongue over the extraction site. Like salt water! At first I thougt it was from the salt water rinses but I get it at all times of the day and only just there. What is it? It's a lower tooth so it can't be sinuses which is just what I read online when I google it. It's not a bad taste just salty! Very salty.

nukuspot,

If you watched the tmj/tmd video you will have learned that appliance therapy for clenching does not address the root of the problem. So hopefully you are still going to pursue other methods of stress reduction. I know it sounds weird but most dentist, even tmj experts basically deal with thi problem one of two ways. Appliance therapy or surgery. It may behoove you to write down the information given by those 2 dentists on that video and take it with you to the tmj dentist. See what he says.

The salty taste..... by any chance have you had the pocket depths checked around #20 at any of your many dental visits? On a scale of 1-10, 1 being ideal and 10 being bad, normally healthy gum pockets measure 1-3. However even with a 3, bacteria can still get in if the tissue is pulled away from the tooth due to a collection of bacteria. It would be a good idea to have them measured at whichever dentist you see next. A salty taste in the mouth, especially one that seems located to just one area on the lower arch, can indicate bacteria getting trapped in a pocket or something else brewing. Try to monitor when you taste the salty water.... after or before a meal, after rinsing or brushing.... how long after... did you eat salted foods ..... things like that.

Hi Bryanna,

Thanks for getting back that fast! I read the link you posted about TMJ which I liked a lot, but unfortunately can't watch the video yet. My toddler broke my laptop and I'm waiting for a part so I'm doing this all on my phone which can't play you tube videos for some reason.

For stress reduction I'm doing acupuncture and massage. I'm not sure what else I can do right now as I don't feel stressed but obviously in my sleep I do! I wish I could see the video.

The salty taste is only when I run my tongue over the extraction site. It's constant, no matter what. Only started a few days ago. Could it be the new tissue that is forming? Does it taste salty? The hole isn't filled in yet but it has this bright pink/red lump of tissue coming up that is flecked with red dots. Is that granulation tissue? I hope thats normal. I don't have a salty taste anywhere else in my mouth.

I had the pockets checked at my last several checkup in April. They were all 1s and 2s. I think I used to have 3s and 4s in a few areas but started using a waterpik with baking soda on the advice of the dentist and the pockets shrank. (I havent restarted using the waterpik yet after surgery but I can't wait to use it. I love it!). My dentist also takes bacteria samples from each quadrant and looks under a microscope for bad bacteria. He specifically took from between 19/20 last time and didn't see anything. So I'm pretty sure this isn't a long standing thing and the salty taste has something to do with the extraction site, and just these last few days. But what? I don't know.

That salty taste is very specifically from just that area, when I run my tongue over the hole.

nukuspot,

Fibrous tissue eventually fills in the socket and new bone forms. Perhaps that is what tastes salty.... ? If the lump of tissue grows up past the top of the socket, then get it checked as it should not grow past that point.

How is the pain with #20... and in the ear, etc.?

The video is awesome. The dentists on the video are:
Dr Robert Kerstein (from Boston) and Dr Nick Yiannios (from Arizona). Perhaps you could google them and read about their work until you can see the video.

ok, thank you! I will check it out as soon as the computer is fixed. Hopefully soon. I have no idea how my toddler could destroy a keyboard but it happened.

The lump is only on one side of the hole, and it is right up to the top, growing a little each day, it's slightly above the level of the hole but just on the one side. the other side doesn't have it but since it's growing it should be there eventually if it grows at this rate. It is pinky-red with red flecks in it like blood? I noticed it once bleeding a drop after I did salt water. Is that normal? I called my general dentist office just now to ask and I am sure they think I am a dental hypochondriac. The receptionist just said "that sounds normal." I am hoping it is just healing tissue that I am being just hyper-aware of.

20 is exactly the same, still slightly mobile and sensitive if I bite on it or move it, but not sensitive to heat or cold. I am trying to stay away from that side as much as I can with chewing or touching. I really really want it to firm up and feel normal again.

The ear and face pain is improving! Each day it gets a TINY bit better. Still pain, but I could live with this if this was my "new normal". I could not have lived with the pain as of 3 days ago so that is how I know it's improving. I even saw an ENT doctor but he had no ideas. At least I have a positive update!