Advice on TMJ/TMD and Tinnitus

Hi all

My first post here! - I have been going to my doctor for a while now regarding my tinnitus and other symptoms and due to my age (22) and no exposure to loud noises etc. So just to run through my situation/symptoms with you...

High pitched ringing only in the right ear
Constant popping/cracking in the right ear
Mild ear ache very rarely
Occasional aches in area of right ear when eating
Tinnitus gets more high pitched when clenching the jaw
I seem to grind my teeth

At first he thought it may be Eustachian Tube Dysfunction due to the popping/cracking in ear and tinnitus but after about 2 months of Steroid spray and constantly popping my ear with the Valsalva maneuver there hasn't been any improvement and after inspecting it closer it does appear the popping is coming from the jaw bones in the ear and now is certain i am suffering from TMD and has told me to get to the dentist to get there opinion and ask for a bite guard/splint (?)

I was hoping that someone on here may be able to offer there opinion as to whether they think it is infact TMD and if anyone has suffered from this and can relate to what i am saying that would be re assuring for me, also would this guard/splint infact help the tinnitus if so how is this? As you can imagine the wait for a dentist isn't exactly quick (on the NHS) and was hoping to get some advice from the community on here.

Thank you so much for reading this.

Josh

 

Josh, it is hard to say from a typed description, but I would say it was very high chance that it is TMD related.

My advice on TMD treatments is: can it do any harm, and might it do good? In other words, a biteplate /night guard won't hurt anything, might as well try it. As you can see on this forum what works for some doesn't for others, and vice versa. I feel my biteplate/night guard helped me, and now I have had braces to reset my jaw, and my T is down, but not by any means gone. What you might find is that it is a process that includes parts improving the condition as well as adapting.

 

Josh I'm a TMD specialist and you clearly have the symptoms of TMD. of course without a thorough diagnostic appointment i can't give you any definitive answers, but when teeth fit properly together you CANNOT grind them. people who can grind their teeth have interferences that stress the TMJ. There is a chance that your T will resolve with proper TMD therapy, I've had many patients whose T did. Just because you have TMD, doesn't mean your T is somatic

 

Hi

Thanks to both of you for your responses, I have been prescribed a bite guard from the dentist to wear at night time and in the day if i want to, the dentist did not seem to have much knowledge on TMD but she said to wear this guard and over time it should take the pressure out of the jaw joint and help relax the TMD symptoms, is this correct?

I am waiting to get my guard as its obviously been made to fit.

Look forward to hearing back from you

Josh

 

I got my guard from the dentist today it's a see through guard place on bottom of the teeth to be worn at night time and if Day if I want to. does anyone have any experience of these helping with TMJ and tinnitus? any advice is welcome

 

Honestly you sound perfectly healthy. Try watching this video. It pretty much changed my life.

How I Got Better From Tinnitus

 

polite bump. any advice is welcome