What I believe is jaw discomfort

Handsome Bob

Hi all. Firstly, my issue is absolutely painless but it causes me some discomfort and I don't think I can open my mouth properly (and as a result it often sounds like I'm mumbling). I can make the top right part of my jaw click too so it's basically like "permanent lockjaw" for want of a better word.

I have looked at the symptoms online for broken jaws or dislocated jaws. I haven't got headaches, I haven't got difficulty breathing, I don't pass blood from the area. It's painless but I just feel uncomfortable and frustrated at times because I can't speak properly.

Any ideas about what's wrong here? I'm ashamed to admit I haven't been to the dentist in years due to one horrible experience (not tool related, horrible rude dentist related) so I'm fretting about getting it checked.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Unsure whats could be going on, go to your dentist and if they cannot help then get them to refer you to a specialist.

?Google bells palsey, does this fit your symptoms? I dont know.

Handsome Bob

Jerome Spicy Tableware wrote: »

Unsure whats could be going on, go to your dentist and if they cannot help then get them to refer you to a specialist.

?Google bells palsey, does this fit your symptoms? I dont know.

Thanks for the feedback. It's not bells palsy, I think someone would have pointed out that one side of my face was paralysed or drooped.:pac:

BryanL

Jerome Spicy Tableware wrote: »

Unsure whats could be going on, go to your dentist and if they cannot help then get them to refer you to a specialist.

?Google bells palsey, does this fit your symptoms? I dont know.

possibly anterior displacement of the disk without reduction? but re captured by the condyle when fully opened?????? But hard to know over the internet:eek:
Go to a general dentist first and if they can't help get sent to a prostodontist or similar
Bryan

Handsome Bob

This is something I've had my eye on for awhile;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temporomandibular_joint_disorder

Excluding pain and tooth loss, this would be a fair assessment of what I think I have.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

BryanL wrote: »

but re captured by the condyle when fully opened??????
Bryan

That would technically make it with reduction So maybe an ant. displacement with or without reduction but who cares as the treatment is the same. :rolleyes:


OP stop looking on the Internet for answers and get thee to a professional. Nobody can give good advice without examining you. Jaw problems are notoriously difficult to diagnose and treat. Get it checked out. The reason I suggested bells palsy (and Ramsey hunt) is that its the only thing I see with similar symptoms (mumbling, difficulty opening jaws etc) that is more urgent to treat. And sometimes people don't notice they have it for some time and the opportunity to treat is it properly is lost.

LZ5by5 wrote: »

I think someone would have pointed out that one side of my face was paralysed or drooped.

I don't know that your not a ugly bastard with no friends

Handsome Bob

Jerome Spicy Tableware wrote: »

That would technically make it with reduction So maybe an ant. displacement with or without reduction but who cares as the treatment is the same. :rolleyes:


OP stop looking on the Internet for answers and get thee to a professional. Nobody can give good advice without examining you. Jaw problems are notoriously difficult to diagnose and treat. Get it checked out. The reason I suggested bells palsy (and Ramsey hunt) is that its the only thing I see with similar symptoms (mumbling, difficulty opening jaws etc) that is more urgent to treat. And sometimes people don't notice they have it for some time and the opportunity to treat is it properly is lost.

I don't know that your not a ugly bastard with no friends

Harsh words.:(:pac:

I know I know, I have to bite the bullet and get over my dentist phobia. I'll get hunting on some dentists with good reps for bedside manner.:p

I'm 90% sure it's not bells palsy as I am pretty sure what the origin of the issue is. My fondness for bread rolls eventually left me with a loud pop one night and ever since then I can make my jaw go click.

BryanL

Jerome Spicy Tableware wrote: »

That would technically make it with reduction So maybe an ant. displacement with or without reduction but who cares as the treatment is the same. :rolleyes:

I love the Nerdy occlusal stuff though:D. I thought it was only with reduction if it was recaptured on closing? rather than opening. Some craic to come here for learning. I don't know where we can go to learn to spell though?
Bryan

Kila

I reckon you should see both a dentist and an orthodontist. It does sound like TMJ problems to me (although I'm not a dentist or an ortho, so I can't really diagnose you). The only way you'll get a proper diagnosis is by seeing a dentist and an ortho, getting a jaw x-ray, and seeing if things are out of whack.

Luckily, if it is TMJ, there are a number of treatments available so you won't have to be uncomfortable forever. If it does turn out to be TMJ, might I suggest a read of www.archwired.com - there are a number of people in braces there to correct TMJ problems and so there will be lots of people there who have gone through the same problems.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

OP of course I jest, I am sure, like all boards users including myself ,you are a hansome adonnis with a large circle of firends, aquantices and lovers.:)

BryanL wrote: »

I love the Nerdy occlusal stuff though:D. I thought it was only with reduction if it was recaptured on closing? rather than opening. Some craic to come here for learning. I don't know where we can go to learn to spell though?
Bryan

Anterior disc displacement with reduction - disc is anterior and medial to the condyle in MIP CMMR etc. As the condyle translates forward there is a click as the articular emminence "pops" back up onto the disc. On closing there is another click as the disc "pops" anterior to the condyle again. So the disc is recaptured on opening and lost on closing Giving a classic reciprocal two clicks. This is the most common. Causes reduced range of movement but usually opening can be manipulated.

Anterior disc displacement without reduction - disc is anterior and medial to the condyle in MIP and CMMR. As it translates forward the disc stays put and folds (with a click uncommonly). This causes reduced range of movement and induces a working side movement and bennet shift on the opposite side leading to deviation. The codyle never gets back on the dick with a ADDWR. So no reciprolcal click. This is less common.

Then there is hypermobility of the joints? Posterior disc displacement? Disc perforations? Vascular encroachment? All the extra capsular problems such as muscles and ligaments. and a range of other nerdy words for these problems. :cool: ( See people how interesting dentistry can be )

Most treatment involves a period with an occlusal or bite splint to try relax the muscles and get the condyle back on the disc. These work pretty good. Often it goes away by itself.

An orthodontist is a specialist of dentistry that straightenes teeth with braces. Doubt that would be of much help initially. Go to a general dentist and he/she will advise.

BryanL

fitzgeme,
do you use NTI's much?
thanks for the definitions.Bryan

btkm8unsl0w5r4

brian, dont use NTI at all, Its really the same as a lucia jig with only anterior contact so shoudl relax the muscles back into CMMR. However for long term wear you cant beat a flat plane with anterior ramp. I have questions about a NTI acting as a Dahl appliance. For short periods and really acute stuff though they are quick and cheap, but you can make one yourself out of duralay in 30 seconds (just remember to vasaline the teeth fell into that trap before)

Have to say I am seeing reasonably few acute TMJ problems reciently, am sure with this blinking recession that it will make a comeback. :eek:

only every saw one or two acute closed locks with anterior displaced discs. Mostly I see astmotomatic clicks and pops. NTR usually.

mjgdunne1

I was diagnosed with tmj over a year ago, I was having intermittent pain in my right jaw with a pretty loud clicking noise as you described. Every case is different some people have pain, others dont. There can be several contributing factors like stress, as it happened i was starting my final year in college. I had visited my regual dentist who put me on antibiotics in case there was an infection in the jaw, this did not work, and she did not seem to know what it could be. After a weekend of pain i visited a dentist in dublin close to college who checked out my jaw and was able to tell me straight away it was tmj. He gave me a referral letter to a specialist in dublin and some pain killers to keep me going.
I think you should bite the bullet and go to the dentist i can recommend the specialist who I am seeing if you like, he makes you feel very relaxed as I am not a fan of dentists myself. He will be able to diagnose your problem as he did mine with xrays. Treatments may vary but a bite splint is working for me.