Chirodontics for TMJ

Has anyone heard of or had experience with something called Chirodontics? My new dentist practices this, is very thorough and is the only person around here I could find that specializes in TMJ/TMD. He’s a great dentist, but with the TMJ he doesn’t just tell me to live with it or make me a night guard, he wants to find the problem and do intense treatments. He’s very knowledgeable, but I had never heard of this practice or anyone who’s had it.

Anyone have some insight?

 

Hi http://www.chirodontics.com/home.htm sounds like a wallet buster really wish you luck with it TMJD treatments can cost fortunes in time and money and get you nowhere ...if you go with it I genuinly hope you get some relief all the best,Pete

 

Thanks, Pete! I appreciate your insight.

I really feel that the TMJD aggravates my Tinnitus. I had very mild T for 10 years until I had my wisdom teeth removed. Since then dealt with jaw issues, and within months my T jumped up to a really high level where it has stayed for 4 years. It's always worse when I wake up and I know I grind my teeth at night. I've also been looking into the correlation between sleep disorders and TMJD, which has been interesting. Just hoping to get some things fixed to at least sleep better and not get headaches, it may or may not affect the T. But I was dealing with poor sleep for a few years before I first got T.

I believe my dentist is sincere and really believes in what he does and that it will help. But that doesn't mean it actually WILL help

 

Ive sen so many of them Cricketears probably spent £15k all in................a forum member on another site who I spoke on the phone went to a top TMJD dentist in England (he is well known) 2 years treatment £10k spent and is now I believe suing him for making things worse ................Its a long hard road trying to sort TMJD out

 

@carlover I have to agree with you that one should be skeptical of many TMJ specialists / dentists. Selling splints / mouthguards is a huge business and many are quick to get on you that bandwagon for obvious reasons.

However, one could say that about the entire healthcare industry and it's incumbent on us to do research and use our best judgement when choosing a treatment.

I have mild TMD and here's what I've learned so far:

- There is a broad spectrum of TMD - simple tension in the joint and surrounding muscles can be termed TMD.
- It's a long-term game, as you stated.
- You don't have to spend a ton of money - try exercises first, especially myofunctional ones that focus on the tongue. (see links to helpful exercises in a previous post).
- Don't just workout / stretch the jaw and face. Also incorporate neck exercises.
- Splints do help, but it's very important you get this from a specialist you trust as it can screw up your bite and cause other problems.
- Don't ever believe a specialist that tells you "correcting" your bite is the key - in fact, this can be disastrous. Many parts of our bodies are asymmetrical and function just fine.
- You have to go into this understanding that you are solving more than one problem, even if it doesn't resolve the T. Otherwise, you will be disappointed.

Cheers,
Ignacio

 

Thanks for your replies, Carlover and Ignacio! You are both right that TMJ is tricky and how relates or doesn't relate to T is still unknown. I am looking at overall posture, neck, sleep, and jaw. 16 years ago I was in a bad car accident and since then have had a tight neck, and stopped sleeping well. Then after a few years, other issues came about and slight T. Then 4 years ago, vertigo, T, hearing problems, migraines, and anxiety. This was within a few months of getting my wisdom teeth out (which was long overdue) and now having all kinds of jaw issues after the surgery.

I don't know how it is where you are, but here in California, the insurance companies don't cover any TMJ related things. Dental insurance says it's a medical problem and the medical insurance says it's oral, meanwhile I'm left to pay for everything. I had a night guard fitted and made for when I sleep and that actually made things worse (I believe I was clenching and grinding even harder), so that was a waste of $550US. I am very reluctant to try anything that doesn't guarantee some positive results

 

Cricketears I once paid £500 for a neuromuscular dentist to make me a bite guard. I grind my teeth at night as well like you.When I told him I had bitten through it while sleeping he didnt believe me he reckoned I must have trod on it.An elephant could have trod on it and not broken the thing ,the jaw can put so much tonnage of power down cant it.

Grinding AKA Bruxism another thing that seems impossible to shift once its set up in your nervous system
Good luck mate

 

I have a buzz/hiss. Left TMJ crunchy. Neck problems too. Seeing another TMJ Doctor next week. Need a new cone beam scan done.

https://managebackpain.com/tmj-pain/tmj-tinnitus