I just received this one, which makes me a little ashamed of my profession!
Hello. I just read your article about clenching teeth. I have to say it is a brilliant piece and makes total sense. I have been suffering with tmj or clenching teeth for about a year now. Like everyone else I have been to countless doctors with tests upon tests and even a dentist that pretty much told me I was stressed out and to find ways to de-stress. Funny huh. The dentist even told me my bite was good and that was pretty much it and sent me off on my way. I was shocked because he is a well known dental surgeon in this area. I know I have been clenching my teeth at night and for a while I was subconsiously doing it in the day. This all started when I was in a stressed out situation about a year ago. Time has passed but it still has not went away. I continue to clench. I don't know what to do about it. After reading countless things about this I am now confused in what to do. I know I need something to wear at night but I am hearing that might cause even more problems. By the way, I have not been diagnosed with tmj or clenching as every medical professional looks at me like I am crazy. I have the classic syndromes of both. Pressure right infront of the ear, in my neck right under my ears, in my ears and also ringing in the ears and inflamation in my face and neck. I feel like a puff fish when I wake up in the morning. It is also worse in the morning and my teeth hurt when I wake up. Once I get up a start moving around it all starts to get better. I also have a metal taste in my mouth all the time which I cant figure out what that is. I live in Missouri and have found a tmj specialist in Kansas City but he thinks veneers are the way out. Honestly, I don't need veneers my teeth are pretty straight. Anyways, do you have any suggestions what step I should take next. If you could give me any advice that would be soo much appreiated. Thanks in advance.
The clencher.
Many thanks for your books. Are you familiar with Dr Joseph Dacruz and his (SOMA) techniques? If so I'd be keen to get your opinion.
Hi, there are hundreds of 'unbalanced' bite appliances out there. Only a balanced bite appliance will stop or reduce clenching trauma, that is, balanced the jaw! The numerous unbalanced mouth guards and appliances (such as the SOMA) cannot accomplish this. It takes a skilled dentist that understands the 'balanced jaw concept' a considerable amount of time to build an balanced a bite appliance. Unbalanced appliances will deprogam one's clenching patterns and relieve pain for a short time but will surely cause new clenching problems in a short time since the jaw is still not balanced. Even a balance bite appliance does not stop clenching since nocturnal clenching is an unconscious act, but it does stop the 'clenching trauma' because teeth function correctly (albeit it is apiece of plastic that fools the body into believing the jaw is balanced). All of this is carefull explained in my books and you will remain confused until you understand their information. The SOMA may be a wonderful orthodontic appliance but an orthodontic appliance (fixed or removable) cannot balance the jaw. Good luck, Dr. Thomas