u/Feisty-Homework-3260

Is there a difference between splints and orthotics? who should I visit it get an orthotic.

Because every dentist I’ve seen either offers splints or nightguards, but never orthotics, hence why i’m assuming they’re the same thing.

I shared the below link about the importance of the airway and TMJ to learn and educate ourselves videos like these should be mandatory with a specific training for any dentist, maxillofacial surgeon, ENT, physiotherapist, and even generalist/doctor. It would be highly beneficial for the public health wordwidely and lower the high rate of TMD worsened by unproper treatments. https://youtu.be/PVxlL\_lMces?is=LPjOK67xUyKq0wjt

I'm not a TMJ specialist but it can be caused by lots of things in my opinion most of the time, TMJ pain is connected to something from people past health history and can be many things such as a car accident, a fall, an upper body injury, a facial injury or past dental work like an extracted tooth that was never replaced it could also be caused from a daily habit that has happened continuously over time like teeth grinding at night, wearing out our bite, chewing too much gum everyday, or sitting in an unhealthy position (bad posture) and also for some people by sleep apnea, the genetics that some people were born with can also play a part in TMJ pain…an awkward position of the jaw, teeth, or the tongue, can cause the TMJ muscles to suddenly react in a stressful way ,the TMJ is the joint that connects the mandible (lower jaw) to the skull the joint can be found on both sides of the head in front of our ears and it allows our jaw to open and close, enabling us to speak and eat when people experience TMJ pain symptoms like migraines, headaches, neck, jaw, ear, or facial pain might be subjected to a TMJ Disorder, or ‘TMD’ (Temporomandibular Disorder), as the TMJ joints could be affected, inflamed, or damaged by a variety of causes.

Many people can’t believe that a misaligned bite can cause so much havoc in other parts of their body but we need think of it this way when something in our body is wrong, it often affects other areas of the body as well, because … everything is connected.

Ending the confusion of what is causing our pain is key to making a plan to get rid of it there is a lot of information out there on the internet about TMJ, however we know that it is not as clear as it needs to be, in order to give us the relief we need and deserve a proper TMJ diagnosis is a personal one, as there are multiple factors involved such as causes, symptoms, pain locations, pain responses, and overall health history.

When I was 10/ 11 I went to a public dental clinic and they told my family that my upper left first molar needed to be extracted. They said it was no big deal — that the next tooth would “fall into place” and everything would be fine. We trusted them. There was no discussion about long-term consequences, orthodontics, or how this might affect the development of my jaw and face. It was just a quick decision, and it changed my life in ways I never could’ve imagined.

From the moment that tooth was gone, things were never quite the same. I remember I couldn’t chew properly anymore. Food would get stuck in my throat, and I had to drink water just to swallow it down. If I ever got sick, I couldn’t swallow bigger pills — my throat always felt tight, like it wasn’t opening right. Something in my swallowing, my chewing, my whole oral function just stopped working the way it used to.

Over time, more symptoms started showing up. My face became asymmetrical. My bite felt off. I developed TMJ pain, cross bite on the side the tooth was extracted, jaw tension, popping, and headaches. My neck and shoulders were constantly tight. I had forward head posture. I started grinding my teeth and clenching my jaw at night. Breathing through my nose became harder, and I found myself mouth breathing more and more, especially during sleep. I stopped sleeping deeply — always waking up tired, sometimes with jaw pain or brain fog. I didn’t even know what “good sleep” felt like anymore.

I’ve since learned that losing that molar so early caused a collapse in my upper arch. It disrupted my bite, my jaw joint, tongue posture, airway, and the whole skeletal balance of my face. That tooth was a structural cornerstone — and without it, everything above and below started compensating… badly.

The worst part is, no one ever explained this. I was just a kid. I didn’t get a say. And now, as an adult, I’m dealing with the consequences of that rushed decision made years ago in a public clinic. The only real solution for my case now is double jaw surgery — to realign my bite, restore facial balance, and open my airway again. And first treat My TMJ, as one side the condyle is out of the socket. The emotional side of all this runs deep too. I’ve grieved the version of myself I never got to be — the one with a strong, symmetrical face, who slept well, who could chew and swallow normally, who maybe had the confidence to go after his dreams, maybe even become an athlete ( i used to have very big potential and was chasing it all life, not knowing where it went wrong ) . Instead, I was slowly disconnected from my body without realizing it, and only years later did I begin putting the pieces together.

It wasn’t “just a tooth.” It was a turning point. It changed my physiology, my self-image, my energy, and my quality of life. And no one warned us.

I’m not posting this for pity. I’m posting it because it’s still happening to kids today. If you’re a parent, don’t let anyone extract permanent teeth without a long-term plan. If you’re someone who’s experienced something similar — you’re not alone. And if you feel like something is wrong in your body but no one believes you — trust your instincts. You’re probably right.

I’m still trying to understand, to heal, and to rebuild. I just want to feel whole again :(

For us TMD patients is very important to know where to turn for help and for which dentist unfortunately lots of dentist out there not been trained at the correct organisations and despite this they "treat"TMD patients I don't want to imagine how and what kind of "success" rate and those poor patients paying for a service which won't give them the relief they need make them even more confused and angry on dentists.

I understand lots dentists not been TMD trained and come out online confused and asking for answers, that's why I posted below a link to make awareness how important is to find the correct dentists unfortunately the dentists on the below link come out himself/herself confused to find answers

https://www.reddit.com/r/TMJ/s/Lz9qpSG9ho

Jaw or bite misalignment (malocclusion) can force surrounding facial muscles and joints to work overtime, frequently leading to temporomandibular joint disorders when your upper and lower teeth or jawbones do not fit together correctly, your body tries to compensate this creates chronic strain the muscles work overtime to compensate as these chewing muscles tire, they spasm or strain, referring pain to the face, neck, and shoulders an improper bite alters the natural gliding motion of the jaw, which can displace the internal shock-absorbing disc or inflame the joint itself misalignment often triggers unconscious teeth grinding or clenching (bruxism), compounding stress on the temporomandibular structures.

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When your jaw is misaligned, it can strain the muscles and nerves that support everyday functions like speaking, chewing, and even breathing. Over time, this imbalance may lead to worn teeth, joint inflammation, and ongoing pain. A properly aligned jaw distributes bite force evenly, reducing stress on your teeth, joints, and muscles.

For many patients, correcting jaw alignment is about preventing future dental complications. Neuromuscular dentistry can be life-changing for individuals who have suffered from years of unexplained discomfort or have been unable to find relief through traditional dental care.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/orthodonticmalpracticevictims/

and yes, I am aware that NOT ALL jaw problems are to do with the teeth.

Biting is the primary function of the jaw.

The jaw hangs in the socket by muscles, it doesn't cause itself damage for no reason. Misalignment when biting is an obvious thing that can cause mechanical problems yet ignored by the vast majority of professionals i've seen.

Orthodontics is a huge cosmetics industry with a long history of lying about jaw problems.

Changes to by bite are the only thing that alters my symptoms and its utterly profound. this is a living hell and i would rather die than be trapped with this messed up bite and jaw forever. such an evil profession.

Jaw grinding or bruxism, is the habit in which patients tend to grind or clench their teeth, throughout the day. This not only causes their teeth to chip and cause attrition, but can also place excessive forces on the jaw muscles and temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

Many such patients are either advised to wear a night guard or request one themselves. Now, while this night guard is a good aid for patients with bruxism, it is often mistaken as a 'solution' for the TMJ Disorders.

It is important to note that a night guard is not designed to treat the underlying causes of your TMJ Disorders or Bruxism. It is made for a specific purpose; to act as a physical barrier between your upper and lower teeth. It, however, only protects them from the effects of grinding, and does not usually stop the grinding habit itself.

Both bruxism and TMJ Disorders are caused by multiple factors and hence need a collective approach for management. This does not mean that all oral appliances are ineffective in treating TMJ Disorders.

There are over 20 types of oral appliances used in TMJ management, the choice of which is entirely based on your diagnosis, underlying cause and treatment goals.
So, if your night guard didn't help, it doesn't necessarily mean your TMJ disorder cannot be treated. It mostly means the treatment was aimed at protecting your teeth rather than addressing the specific cause of your jaw pain.

Successful TMJ management begins with an accurate diagnosis, followed by a personalized treatment plan tailored to your condition.

Learning to diagnose and treat TMD is, in many ways, a heuristic journey. A heuristic is a practical method of learning through observation, experience, careful testing, and problem-solving when all the answers are not yet known. If clinicians waited for perfect scientific proof before helping every TMD patient, many patients would continue to suffer while the research slowly caught up. Progress in medicine and dentistry has always depended on thoughtful clinicians who observed, questioned, tested their ideas responsibly, learned from their results, and shared what they discovered. Good science and good clinical experience should work together—not compete with each other. Clinical experience generates questions, scientific research tests those questions, and together they move patient care forward.

I posted here the above reddit user electromagneticpoms abusive message who completely should be banned from reddit not just giving me and I'm a patient negative messages but also lots of abusive messages to all TMD dentists deliberately following all of them with misleading messages to the public, I'm surprised it's still not been banned yet I know the person had total joint replacement from what posted online about his/hers page but what is trying to do is stops people to receive the correct information and help to find relief with conservative treatments what is doing is too much I hope someone could report this account on reddit because we have the right for speaking up for ourselves online thank you.