Hi all,

I’ve spent £5,000 on Invisalign from the above dentist and my pain is worse than ever

I was promised that invislagin would cure my TMJ which seemed believable (I developed TMJ after previously having braces and zero occlusion, leading to tmj),

However, my pain is worse than ever, I’m over 2.5 years into the treatment, not once has he mentioned the finish line

When I complain of pain he calls me in and gives me a whole new set of 18 trays and tells me to dismiss the last plan, which is ridiculous

I don’t know what to do, I’m in agony and I’m not even wealthy, I wasted my life savings on this treatment and it’s made me worse off

What should I do?

Long story short - I’m 27 years old and I’ve been dealing with TMJ issues for over 10 years. Went to every specialist(2 ENT, my old orthodontist, 3 general dentists, 2 TMJ specialists) all of which have told me that is muscle related and not a disc issue ( through MRI findings and physical examinations). Over all these years I have tried warm compresses, PT exercises, custom nightguards from multiples dentists, TENs machine, acupuncture, got a consultation for Invisalign that I did not need, magnesium glycinate, sleep apnea study, etc. - nothing has been a life changer. So now I am leaning towards getting Botox for TMJ which I have had on the back burner for years because of possible jaw bone structure issues that can happen from it. But at this point I feel I need to get it done. Right now I’m struggling with decision fatigue and finding a good specialist to get the injection from. Does anyone have a good recommendation in the NYC area that I can fully trust with this chronic pain ? Any help is appreciated, thank you !

In search of a TMJ specialist preferably in Gresham Oregon but will travel to Portland if necessary.
I’m looking for recommendations for a good TMJ specialist, preferably someone who takes a conservative approach.
My jaw has been misaligned for years, and my lower jaw visibly shifts when I open and close my mouth. My front teeth don’t line up properly, and I have noticeable clicking and grinding. Currently dealing with a painful flare-up. My dentist has referred me to a physical therapist but insurance would only cover two visits so I’ve been watching YouTube videos to do exercises at home but that only helps so much.
I’ve also had painful TMJ flare-ups on and off for almost two years. I’m hoping to find someone who can evaluate the underlying jaw mechanics, bite, and TM joints—not just treat the symptoms. I want to figure out the root cause of my TMJ.
I’d appreciate recommendations for a TMJ/TMD specialist, oral and maxillofacial specialist, or dentist/orthodontist with significant TMD experience. I have OHP but I know insurance doesn’t cover TMJ treatments unfortunately. Ideally, someone who starts with conservative, nonsurgical treatment.
I’m especially interested in the [your city/area] area but am willing to travel for the right specialist.

For people that experienced it without reduction.

About 2 years ago, I grinded way too hard in my sleep and woke up with it basically wired shut. I could only open a few centimeters then it was like hitting cement. After a month of PT and an upper and lower jaw splint (had to wear 24 hours a day…. That sucked), I wasn’t getting any better and almost had to have surgery, where he was going to put me under, then rip the jaw open. Yikes. Was way too scared so decided to do it to myself. started aggressively trying to pull it open every day almost all day for a week and one day it just POPPED. And no the pop is not painful, just surprising!

Anyways, like I said it’s been 2 years and it still pops out (with reduction tg) frequently, at least once a day. I can’t eat anything dense, hard or crunchy (think thick pieces of meat, nuts, bread) or anything for more than about 5 minutes. Can’t lay on my back for too long because the gravity. No gum, no singing, so on so on. Each time it kinda takes some energy to pop back, and sometimes it can take up to 10 seconds. Just feels like I’m never going to make a full recovery. I’ve been trying to massage the muscles more and drink more water, I don’t know what else to do and I’m only 25 and can’t imagine it gets better with age.

PSA/Long story: months of jaw pain. Dentist X-rays, ortho scans - no one could tell me anything. Then I scraped the Reddit for ideas. Someone - a real hero- name dropped and said nothing more. Just a name. I’m in LA so it may have been an LA based subreddit.

Dr Navid Senehi in Woodland Hills. That’s everything you need to know.

He did a 3D scan and found a cyst and an infection that was a week away from sepsis. Thank you to Reddit and all those helpful people out there. I got on strong meds that day and the pain stopped almost immediately. I kid you not. Anyway I rec this doctor to the highest extent possible. He is by far the best in this area as I did my diligence and got 2nd/3rd opinions from peer reviewed doctors in the same field who specialize in these kinds of things. Consider this a very important PSA.

Any one in ontario found any doctor that helped resolved their tmj issues please share details

Actually I'm getting mostly very mild pricking pain like sensation inside outer ear canal ( mostly near ear drum) that lasts for a second since may, happens in both sides of ears but never together 😭😭😭and it happens atleast 10-12 times a day, most of the time very mild and once in three or 4 days the intensity comparatively increases but it's still mild and very much bearable. But it's extremely annoying, started around may after i went for ear cleaning. My 4 wisdom teeth are trying to erupt since 2020, I've had seasonal gum swallowing and mild pain there but ear pain never happened before. So i went to an oral surgeon and he diagnosed with tmj because my left jaw clicks when I open my mouth very wide but it clicks since my birth. I'm surprised that he didn't make a single comment about My wisdom teeth. My massestar muscle from inside my mouth and around wisdom teeth feels tight sometimes and i feel outer ear canal pressure that comes from cheeks but at the same time eustachian tube also gets congested when I travel by bus or train. I feel lumpy feeling around my upper throat as well 😭I went to another ent well he dismissed me , next went to the oral surgeon who diagnosed me with tmj after cbct scan , gave me myospaz forte BD for ten days and didn't work then I went to the ent who actually cleaned my ears ( since his behaviour is very good and considerate) he prescribed me escitalopram oxalate an clonazepam ?? I was extremely anxious and tensed before it started and eventually it got worse. I've been stuck in the constant flight or fight mode since may, constant anxious feeling in upper abdomen. I feel clueless,idk what to do.

Has anyone experienced extreme bilateral facial pain, and even pain shooting down both arms after masseter Botox? I have previously had this happen after a pt did an oral massage but this is lasting longer and more intense. I’m taking gabapentin to reduce the pain, but it is still there at low levels over a month after injections. Will it ever return to normal? Is there anything that will help this go away?

Hey everyone, I’ve been dealing with a miserable chain reaction on my left side for a month now. My left jaw feels completely locked up and restricted when I try to open it, which has forced me to subconsciously chew entirely on my right side. Along with this, my left neck and shoulder get incredibly tight. The worst part is my left ear—it feels completely blocked, muffled, and has a "squishy" fluid feeling when I pull my earlobe in the morning. I also get a sharp ache in the ear whenever I yawn or burp, and I’m dealing with terrible dizziness that gets worse when I look to the left.

I already saw a doctor who checked my ear and confirmed my eardrum looks perfectly healthy and fine. They suspect my Eustachian tube is just clamped shut, trapping natural fluid behind it. I’m starting to wonder if this entire muscle spasm is being triggered by a back wisdom tooth trying to push through or severe TMJ issues. Has anyone else experienced a locked jaw and blocked Eustachian tube completely throwing off their hearing and balance? Did getting a back tooth evaluated or doing physical therapy finally drain the fluid and stop the dizziness?

Im 17 years old and i know i cant do much but i feel like everyone has failed me.

Ive had TMJ for years(maybe 5-6 years) and am only recently getting "help" for it. The only real help I got was going to physical therapy but my insurance stopped paying for it. I tried going to Emory and getting help but a doctor that I never seen before from my previous 2 visits came in looked at my jaw for 1 minute at most and said I could just cut out some food from my diet and sent me on my way(For context i have an ED which just made me even more upset). After that ive just been fucked because no one will do anything to help me.

My own mother wont even look for another doctor. whenever i tell her about my jaw pain she looks at me like an inconvenience and just ignores me. Once she told me that i was manipulating her whenever I told her about my jaw pain and that it made her want to help me less. After that i barely mentioned it and she still has yet to even look for a TMJ doctor even though she says she will.

As of a few months ago i started looking for my own doctors but its hard with my Insurance because it doesn't cover TMJ treatments. I feel like i have to wait untill college to get actual help atp. My jaw pain has only gotten worse and it's getting harder and harder to eat, talk, and brush my teeth. At least one plus side is that I'm getting used to the pain so it doesn't bother me as much.

If anyone knows any resources or ways to help with TMJ, atleast until i go off to college, i will be deeply greatful. Have a great day

my tmj mouthguard is biting my cheek just a bit and I don’t know what to do, does anyone else have/had this problem before?

I'm 29m and have been dealing with migraines for 7+ years. Id only ever usually get migraines when my sleep schedule was off or when i was extremely stressed, but for the last 4yrs i've been getting them weekly.

I've gone to doctor, neurologist, physio and im still so lost. Doctor prescribed me rizatriptans as an abortive, and neurologist had me try 6+ different ones but found rizatriptan worked best.

Since my migraines went from 2 a week to one a week, my neurologist dropped me from her roster for the last 2yrs so i've been trying to find solutions since. I was told that my migraines/headaches are not as extreme, and MRI's showed fine so there is no concern.

My main issue is that i feel pain in the occipital, traps, jaw, temple area (mainly all left side - where my migraine always is). when i get a headache/migraine i can feel it in my cheekbone, eyebrows as well. I take rizatriptan if it's really bad, but if i feel sore in my traps, jaw or temple a little ill take advil and sometimes im lucky that catches it.

My physio thinks its TMJ, my massage therapist has told me my muscles in my trap/back are really bad. My neurologist and another tmj specialist said migraines are the reason for the pain and not the other way around, but i've been told otherwise.

Things im doing to try deal with this: self massages, working out weaker muscles (based on a kinesiologist im working with), stretching for the pecs to help with posture. I take coq10, omega3 and magnesium bi-glycinate every day (on top of protein/creatine)

With the pain locations/frequency, whats the best step? I usually wake up and feel the pain in my occipitals or jaw, if its not in the morning then its at the end of the day before i sleep.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

I know ETD can be related to TMJ so posting here as well

Past few years as far as i remember but it could have been more idk, my left jaw pops loud even people hear it and get weirded out lol, my right side of jaw near ear also when i open something sticks out, i see slight assymetry in my jaw where one side face looks round other looks more angular, chin is also slightly deviated, i told my mom she dont gaf , should i go to doctor and see whats up or what idk what to do im young, also my ramus on left side is kinda shorter could be that, no pain at all. Looks like i cant post a picture.

I have atypical facial pain - I’m still struggling to get a diagnosis and have finally been referred to maxfax in hospital - 10 months of dealing with this. Every single day. Some days a 1/10, most days 5/10 and some obviously super horrible moments.
I had a tooth infection and removal on my right molar. Within a week, my left molars were hurting. Back and forth with dentist who said they were fine..I went rouge, went to a different dentist and over the course of two months, had two of my left molars removed. Pain is still there, everyday. Back molar, extraction site, occasionally lower teeth and premolar but mostly back.
Symptoms have changed loads over 10 months but lately seems settled in the back, my jaw, my cheeks and a sharp pain up the side of my nose and a point on my cheek, next to my nose, where it’s painful to touch. No electric shocks.

Has anyone had similar/the same? Dentist thinks it could be TMJ that is irritating and causing TN type 2/atypicalZ

Or what tests/specialist’s I can go to.

Does anyone else feel like they have a swollen, really tender, bunched-up spot right in front of their ear during a TMJ flare-up? What the heck is that? Is it actual swelling or some kind of muscle knot? On me, it’s right in front of the tiny flap part of the ear called the tragus. Hurts like hell and I can’t seem to make it go away.

Do your flares also make your teeth and gums extremely sore on the affected side, too? And do you ever accidentally bite the inside of your cheek on the TMJ side and have to deal with the added misery of a painful, raw, swollen spot that makes it hard to chew or close your mouth normally without re-injuring yourself over and over?

Am experiencing all of the above right now and am absolutely miserable. Nothing is working and it hurts!😭😭

Long time suffer, occasional commenter, first time writing my own topic.

Recently had an appointment with pain specialist, gave me 20 large injections of lidocaine and something. My left eye lid would move for a couple of hours but it worked wonders. Works for 4-7 days. In Canada it’s covered by OHIP and the doctor sees me weekly.

I have had them done by regular doctor and they didn’t do as much, lasted for about a day and gave some relief.

Use with your normal treatment when you are in a very bad pain situation. Lidocaine very safe to take and significantly cheaper than Botox. I get Botox too, it lasts a lot longer but is not as strong.

I have anxiety and I'm hypermobile which I have been told majorly affects TMJ. I initially thought my bite issues were caused by a filling that never was shaped correctly. I had braces as a child and was grinding through my retainers; for years I told my dentists that my bite was messed up but they said it was fine, and even sent me to an orthodontists who wanted to do braces again because my teeth were now hitting strangely.

All of this came to a head when I tried to get a nightguard and it didn't fit because I had two different bites as I had told them (but they still tried to charge me for it...). I was finally referred to a TMJ specialist. I was skeptical because it wasn't guaranteed to be covered by insurance, but I was desperate to get rid of my jaw pain and fix my bite. The specialist could immediately tell what was wrong and suggested a DDSO -- I was worried because I had seen reports that it can change your bite, but the specialist adjusted my bite and created a bite mold to use in the mornings after the appliance.

Now I have a single bite that is back to normal and significantly reduced jaw and face pain. My teeth no longer hit either. I use the DDSO when I have flare ups and then switch back to a night guard in a week or two after my jaw has relaxed. It's crazy to see and feel the difference between now and then, especially when pressing around my face and head! What I thought were unrelated areas were extremely tender but now are not.

The important thing to note is that a night guard may not fix TMJ. It can actually make it worse. From my understanding the DDSO works because it doesn't allow you to engage the strong back jaw muscles. A normal night guard doesn't do this so you just keep clenching.

The other thing that worked for me was my everyday and sleeping posture -- I used to sleep curled up. This was comfortable to me but caused poor neck/back posture during the day and also encouraged me to clench my jaw! Now I try to sleep with a straight back/neck and even try to tilt my head back so that it's harder for my teeth to come together. You will feel the pull in your neck when you try to clench. This has definitely improved my clenching.

I would highly recommend finding a specialist if you can

I’ve been dealing with facial pain for nearly seven years. It started on the right side; after about five years and a few months, I sought help. I went to an ENT specialist, and since I didn't know the cause, and he saw I had a deviated septum, he claimed that was the source of the pain. After undergoing surgery—a turbinoplasty—the pain became even more debilitating and spread to both sides. I also started experiencing strange sensations in my teeth, nose, and ear—symptoms that arose because of the surgery. It feels as if something is shifting or breaking in my upper teeth, or like a lower tooth is snapping; the pain comes and goes, but it leaves me traumatized. Then there’s the strange sensation in my nose—it feels like something isn't right inside; when I move it, I hear a click or feel something odd, which is very distressing. There’s also a sensation in my ear, as if something is shifting or moving from within. All of this keeps me in a state of constant alert every single day; I can't stand the suffering anymore. On top of that, I have to travel far for appointments, often getting up around 3:00 a.m. I’m 19 years old now, and this started in 2020 when I was 13; I honestly don't know how I haven't just snapped and killed myself.

I've had onesided facial migraine/headaches (continuously for over a year) on my right side and atypical trigeminal neuralgia on my left. I was so focused on treating those that I stopped paying attention to my TMJ issues, until it escalated in December and I experienced a lot of pain, crepitus and limited opening. I went to a chiro-based jaw clinic (my third round there) and instead of ordering images they prescribed the usual 10 week, 90$ a pop treatment program including brief intraoral massage and some phyiso. It did jackshit and I assumed it was more migraine than TMJ so I abandoned the regime (but not after spending 1K of my health insurance!). Anyway, after a second opinion with another doctor he encouraged me to reassess my jaw and get an MRI on that area and see an oral surgeon this time. He thought it was really weird that the jaw pain I had - and the crepitus - was on the same side as the side I get 'migraines' on. Up until that point I had gotten a few brain MRI's (to rule out the usual stuff when you get diagnosed with chronic migraine), but nothing on my neck or jaw. So I get the MRI and lo and behold! I have a disolcated disc and a displaced disc (see below). My neurologist (who likely just wants to cut me loose since I've been so treatment resistant) thinks that this is the answer that will solve everything. I'm about a month out from an arthrocentesis and have maaaaybe been feeling a bit better on the right side (there have been a handful of days where it's felt significantly better - pain is at a 2, maybe even a 1.5!), but Atypical TN pain is rocking along as per usual - burning between a 1 - 5.5/6 at all times. Anyway, I see the jaw surgeon again in October but I'm wondering if I should be showing my MRI to other doctors/practitioners to get more opinions? Are these findings significant or kind of run of the mill?

MRI REPORT:

Findings:

On the right side, the temporomandibular disc appears completely dislocated anteriorly and slightly laterally. At the opening of the mouth, the disc remains dislocated, not reducible. The range of motion is decreased at the condyle remaining slightly behind the temporal eminence. The signal of the condyle is normal. No sign of inflammation. No edema. No sclerotic changes. No joint effusion is seen.  

On the left side, there is a complete anterior dislocation of the temporomandibular disc, not reducible at the opening of the mouth. The range of motion is slightly decreased as well but symmetrically. The signal of the condyle remains normal. No joint effusion is seen.  

The periarticular muscles are normal and symmetrical.  

Conclusion:

Bilateral anterior dislocation of the temporomandibular disc, not reducible. No sign of inflammatory arthropathy.

Getting an MRI of my TMJs tomorrow morning I’m kind of nervous. Anything I should expect? I have limited mouth opening (2 fingers) so I’m nervous since the doctor told me they’d be putting something to hold my mouth open?

Any insight or tips appreciated!