Please Help - TMJ...wisdom teeth?!
Question: In the Summer of 2006, I had my wisdom teeth taken out, a few months later I started seeing signs of TMJ. Popping of my jaw, cracking, etc. It's gotten worse over the year, and I was wondering if my TMJ could have been from my wisdom teeth being taken out? I can tell one side hangs down more than the other, because when I sleep I have to push one side up while falling asleep so it doesn't bother me. It's very out of line (my jawline). Every time I yawn, sometimes talk, it just pops out of place. Some days it's bad and I get headaches from it. The only thing that seems to help is massaging my jaw muscles. Any ideas of what I can do to help my TMJ? Thank you so much in advance.
- Shannon
Answers: In the Summer of 2006, I had my wisdom teeth taken out, a few months later I started seeing signs of TMJ. Popping of my jaw, cracking, etc. It's gotten worse over the year, and I was wondering if my TMJ could have been from my wisdom teeth being taken out? I can tell one side hangs down more than the other, because when I sleep I have to push one side up while falling asleep so it doesn't bother me. It's very out of line (my jawline). Every time I yawn, sometimes talk, it just pops out of place. Some days it's bad and I get headaches from it. The only thing that seems to help is massaging my jaw muscles. Any ideas of what I can do to help my TMJ? Thank you so much in advance.
- Shannon
Looks like you have a dislocated joint, and as you describe its a bit advanced. see, the tempromandibular joint is just like a ball and socket hinge, the ball is held in place in the socket by tendons and muscles, now the ball may get out of the socket due to excessive wear of the socket, openning your mouth to much eg. when yawning or having to much load and strain on the joint due to malaligned teeth and disfunctional occlusion.
the best person to properly diagnose you and tell you your treatment options, will be a specialized Maxillofacial Surgeon, some MFS even specialize in TMJ surgery. he will first require some X-Rays and an MRI to know exactly your condition.
sorry if I was a bit blunt, but i just wanted you to understand exactly what the problem is, so you could eventually get the correct help you need,
I truly wish you all the best and I hope you find the right treatment modality that will best suite you and would eventually get rid of the constant pain, clicking, and headacke
by the way, your condition propably (not definetly) has nothing to do with your wisdom teeth.
Having wisdom teeth out can sometimes cause some troubles with TMJ. So can, an off bite, braces, grinding of teeth, clenching of teeth, etc.
highsy unlikely that the extraction had anything to do eith your TMJ. but you should seek a consult with a Dentist that specializes inTMJ. they are out there.Using a hot compress before going to bed for 290 mins on the outside of your face should alivate the discomfort that you are having. Also using an anit-inflammatory brfoer going to bed will also take down the swelling. Go to the dentist and let him evulate thsi problem.