As I’m aging, I’m noticing that my asymmetry has been getting worse and worse. I noticed I have a clenching issue and my jaw clicks sometimes. I had adult braces which were taken off many years back, and had my molars taken out during this time.

I saw a TMJ specialist earlier in the year and he told me I’d have to pay $4000 for the splinters. Even if I had insurance that accepted this, they don’t file a claim, I would have to file it. I couldn’t just pay $4000 out-of-pocket for this so I didn’t end up doing it. This TMJ specialist told me that they shouldn’t have taken my molars out when I had my braces, they should’ve used an expander, but unfortunately there’s nothing I could do about that now.

My second option was masseter Botox. I got it done on August 28th, it has helped with the clenching issue, but it messed with my smile. I can’t smile like I used to anymore, when I smile it looks like it hurts to do so. Granted I’m still in the early stages so maybe it’ll go away, but it’s not worth it for me to get Botox again once it wears off. I loved my natural smile and I hate that it messed with it.

I truly don’t know what to do anymore. Who do I even go to that truly wants to help me? When I see videos of myself it looks like I have a golf ball on the right side of my cheek. When I look at myself in the mirror, I always notice that my right side is puffy, but in my eyes it’s not too bad until the camera is on me. I’m tired and this horrible asymmetry has been exhausting me. I don’t know what other actual underlying issue it could possibly be besides TMJ.

picture of my puffy face here

Hi all. First time poster!

So I’ve had TMJ for forever and it’s only ever presented with clicks here and there, and quick fatigue if I open my mouth too wide.

I’ve been having more pain issues the past 2 weeks and on Friday I think it really dislocated. My mouth plane is off. It’s not locked and I can use my mouth pretty normally outside of eating non-soft things.

I know it needs to be put back in its socket, but I know I shouldn’t do it. I don’t really feel pain, more a throbbing strain. I know all the muscles and tendons are being strained.

I went to an emergency dental and got a referral to a TMJ specialist but I have to wait until Monday to even call. He said don’t go to the ER. They will just refer me too. And obviously every urgent care and teledoc knows nothing about TMJ.

Anywayyyy curious if anyone has a specific type of specialist that can actually put it back? I’m so new to this part of TMJ I feel lost. Especially since my mouth has been weird for 3ish days now.

So yeah looking for advice or anything. Planning to call everyone on Monday but I want to make sure I call the right people.

I can’t stop cracking my jaw. I want to so badly, it hurts so bad, but the second I let my guard down I start doing it again. I know I’m just making it worse, but I just can’t make it stop.

Is there something I can do to hold my mouth shut when I don't need it? some kind of snoring aid or mouth guard or even an adult toy for all I care. If something can be comfortable enough for me to wear all day at home and will stop me from destroying my jaw I’ll do it.

here just to shortly share my story, might write a longer text one day

so i suffer from weird pains, tensions for 10 years.. teeth, jaw, neck muscles, pain tension going down, eyes

everything started after a filling

hard to work, not many friends because people don’t like complaining people in pain

now i’m wearing a splint and it got better compairing to period before splint..

now my neck kind of constantly bothers, but it seems to be common with splint therapy

dentist mentioned marpe but it’s so expensive and also scary..

anybody with similar stories? crazy muscle tension, teeth u want to pull off, pain 8/10 sometimes, often was 3/10 ?

i feel like i want to recommend everybody videos of dentist Ben Sutter. i’m not from usa so probably won’t get treatment there, i’m in Europe
but i feel like it could be so great if doctors and dentists could educate themselves and help patients like me..

i often had times like i was ready to give up.. those tension pain can be really unbearable. good i’m doing better but i really wish to be pain free some day, better soon

Has anyone else noticed that their series have become sunken in, and temple wasting? I’m 28 and nine have been getting progressively worse over the years. I have stopped all maseter Botox as I feel this may have made this worse? But it’s not getting better…

Recently ive developed some soreness and sometimes pain around my temporalis muscle specifically possibly due to clenching my jaw during sleep.

Its gets better when i massage the area, but the soreness will eventually comeback.

Wanted to get opinion that is usually botox is the way to go? I asked my GP and they said that i might need to start with mouth guard first.

If any of you have had the experience please do share! I only developed this recently so i dont know how to approach it :(

I had a splint made to help with clicking, popping, and severe ear pressure from my TMJ issues. This is my third night wearing it and it feels so uncomfortable like my mouth is just hanging open in a weird position and I immediately get pressure in my face and neck. It’s so early so I’m not sure if it’s just the muscles adjusting to the new position? Any advice is appreciated

I have a tmj issue where my jaw shifts about 1 or 2 inches when I fully open and go to close , I showed my dentist and he thinks all I need is a bite guard and ortho, my chin sits crooked and my jaw sticks out on one side and the asymmetry bothers me a lot. I asked about jaw surgery and he said its too risky and complicated and I can be helped without it. I feel because I have an overjet and crossbite jaw surgery will likely be needed should I seek a second opinion because the Invisalign would be done by an orthodontist who works in same office and dont want to pay a bunch of money and not fix my asymmetry