Yuku free message boards

Al,

I always find it helps to picture in my mind how the joints would function normally and then try and picture what the abnormality could be.

The condular head within the joint rotates about 25mm. The rest of the action or function of opening is a 25 mm slide of the condyle. As the condyle does this very slight slide movement, it does drop slightly for full mouth opening. On closing it does the opposite, slides back, up and rotates.
On closing, chewing and swallowing, the lower jaw is in continuous motion, usually. Even in swallowing liquids, our lower jaw does move.

If you've been told, the condyles are abnomally low, then they are dropping further down than normal with the range you have now.

If the condyles are sliding/dropping a little too far, they could be pushing or swinging back against the fossa and ear cavity and you're hearing noise.

It might be possible that they're actually pulling/stretching ligaments too far, this is what you're hearing and this would cause a tightness or feeling of pressure against the ear cavity.

This is guessing on my part. I have been shown movable models with the jaw taking on these abnormal movements, due to muscle and/or ligament laxity and joint deterioration.
If it's happening when your swallowing, it does sound like the condyles or jaws going too far back.

Many years ago, I had a very visible drop and swing of the jaw. It did swing back and I heard a loud clunk. They thought it was muscular.
We did find out later, my joints were deteriorated and not functioning very well, therefore allowing the jaw to push or swing back too far.
I still have a little bit of a backward movement of the jaw when swallowing. It's not painful nor does it cause noise. With non-functional joints and muscles basically handling this function/movement, I assume they're doing the best they can.

I know you're aware, this would most likely only be a mm or
so. The jaw function in relation to the auricular cavity doesn't have room for a mm or so of abnormal function.

This may not be very clear without visual aids. I can see in my mind these things I have been shown through the years, I'm not sure I've explained it very well.


Cymy

Al,
I have read that surgery is normally recommended only when ligaments are torn or ruptured in the TMJ area. I have read many of the well knowns in the TMJ World, state that most everything in the TM joint can heal, given the right conditions. My very "UN" well known, Dentist firmly believes this to be true.
Currently, much research and actual treatment is being done to avoid ligament surgery on knees and other area's that have previously been considered surgical problems without a second thought.

With the knee ligament that has been the most often surgically corrected, a treatment called Protected Mobility is being used. In reading the article, it was very similar to the one written by the group from White Memorial regarding the TM joint.

Use a brace for the knee or in the case of the TM joint, an
appliance that allows restricted or protected movement. With this, the joint, muscles and ligaments are mobile, but protected from over extension and they will heal.

This does seem very logical to me. I'm sure healing would depend on the amount of damage.

I believe to find someone to design this type of appliance as soon as possible would be in your best interest. I do know that's the hardest part.

I wish I knew more details. The last time I saw my Dentist, I did ask many questions about different cases that I've read about on the Boards. I asked about stretched ligaments and muscles due to inappropriate splint therapy. He does believe most cases are reversible and can be treated with the correct
splint therapy.

Cymy

Al,

Thank you, but I don't deserve the credit. I have ask so many questions through the years and have had a few good Doctors, a Dentist and even Surgeons to answer them for me. I have done a little reading and I've learned a lot from other people.

As far as your question about full immobilization, that is one I personally ask about a few years back and also it was discussed on another board more recently, maybe a year ago. When my jaw was in a similar condition, I asked a Surgeon whom I trust about wiring or immobilizing to let me heal. He said this would not help and would most likely create more problems. The consensus was the same, a year or so back when this question was asked and discussed.
There are several reasons this is not a good idea with TM Joint problems. The main problem is, there is a chance when you are "mobilized", you can barely open & close. Sometimes you can't. Many people think being wired after orthognathic surgery is common. It's only done if absolutely necessary.
They try to do these and not wire your mouth together, if possible.
I was wired together for 6 weeks after my 2nd one. Afterwards, I could open enough , maybe, to put a piece of paper between my teeth. It took quite a bit of PT to get to 10mm. It was awful.

People sometimes do this to lose weight, however, Surgeons normally wouldn't do it if they have joint problems.

Reduced mobility is what I would do, if it became necessary for myself. I do believe it works if done properly.

Cymy