Bracing Archives

Help with references and understanding bracing.

I am very thankful for your site. It is of great help to be able to find out how others solve their TMJ issues. My daughter developed a locked jaw in 1996, at age 12, and subsquently was diagnosed with TMJ after her regular dentist held her pried open too long too wide (3 hours). Since then she has received osteopathic manipulation treatment, physical therapy, biofeedback and neurofeedback therapy, one splint that displaced her bite and a splint that helped the bite stabilize. Right now in addition to the other therapies she is also undergoing orthodontic treatment to stabilize her bite and straighten her teeth in conjuction with osteopathic manipulation, biofeedback and neurofeedback training. X rays have shown that her jaw bone is deteriorating on the left and she is showing arthritic changes. She has been in constant pain, inspite of the treatments until last July when a new Osteopath doctor was able to realign her jaw. The TMJ has caused her pain, insomnia, irritability and difficulties concentrating in her studies.

The dentist that caused her problems, have not been willing to acknowledge their contribution to the problem. We are in the process of attempting to sue them to recover the tremendous financial burden this has put on me, and most likely will continue to put on me.

I would like information on how else I could help her to minimize the pain, insomnia, irritability, and concentration difficulties. What is bracing? She has worked with the most reputable TMJ specialist, and in my opinion they seem to know very little. We have been finding mostly what to do by ourselves, just trying everything, including acupuncture.

I also would like to know how to find references to the fact that keeping the mouth open too long too wide can cause TMJ and that this is something dental programs emphasize in their teaching, that is let the patient rest between treatments. The dentist that caused the injury was working on four patients at the same time. It was not necessary for him to keep her mouth open so long if he only worked on one patient at a time. He refused to let her rest her mouth even after I asked and she had tears in her eyes from the pain. She had to go to the bathroom with her mouth pried open. She has always been an excellent patient. Very compliant, perhaps too compliant. Obviously I feel guilty for not walking out of the office before it was too late.

Since there are many readers of your site, I would like to emphasize that it is very important not to let the dentist keep the mouth pried open for too long, better yet not pried open at all. It could develop into TMJ and that is a nightmare. There are safer way to work on teeth. Also stay away from dentist who worke on an assembly line, No matter how good their reputation. Some one could get hurt!

Follow Ups:

• Re: Help with references and understanding bracing. (Archive in TMJ.) Walt Stoll 06:35:27 8/26/03 (0)

In Reply to: Help with references and understanding bracing. posted by Viera I Pablant, Ph.D. on August 25, 2003 at 01:24:22:

Thanks, Viera.

The dental literature should have many references about this since it is a too common situation. Years ago I read about it and have even had a few patients of my own with this syndrome. The internet might be a way to track down the articles. When patients become just a vehicle for income, things like this can happen.

With no other cause than the symptoms, she likely is bracing from the pain (a vicious cycle). Self-hypnosis and serious SR will help at least this part of the underlying contributing factor.

How old is your daughter now? SR is more difficult for children until they are older than 14.

Acupuncture might help but the resolution of this must come from within.

See the glossary and the archives for definitions of bracing and what to do about it.

Let us know how she does.

Walt