TMJ Issues?

[amicx92]

For those who haven’t read my other threads, I’ve been dealing with some pain the last month (5 weeks now!). Long story short, a crown on an upper left molar popped off. The day after I got it placed again, a lower right root canal tooth started hurting. Two weeks of treating my TMJ later, we found out it was infected. I had it extracted with a temp bridge placed on the 12th.

The extraction is healing great! Minimal discomfort and swelling now. I had to have an I&D (which was WAY worse than the extraction), tissue removed around the tooth, and the infection cleaned up. No pain on that side — but now it’s moved back to the left side. The side that started it all. The crown tooth is uncomfortable again, and the tooth directly below it and the tooth in front of that one. It’s not a sharp pain, but more like a really dull ache if anything. It’s pretty constant and feels like most of the pain is concentrated behind my ear. I can chew on the teeth fine, I just feel an odd discomfort. Has anyone had any TMJ tooth pain like this? I’ve been favoring this side for the past five weeks because of the issues with my root canal tooth. I see my TMJ specialist Monday so I’ll talk to him about it, too. My nerves are just shot with this month- long back and forth!

 

[Paige2018]

YES!!!!! It is nice to hear someone else going through the same thing as me! I had an extraction about 2 weeks ago, and have another one this coming Thursday, and then jaw arthrocentesis (fancy way of saying inject and clean out my tmj joint, and then fill them full of medicine) for my TMJ about 2.5/3 weeks later.

 

[MountainMama]

I have had TMJ issues ever since I had my lower molars extracted on the right side. I was, and still am, chewing exclusively on the left side. I kept getting that dull ache you are describing, plus the occasional sharp pain. I had the dentist look at those two molars, and he found nothing, so he said they were probably cracked. He has a plan to put crowns on them. I am holding off, due to having no teeth on the other side (crown prep led to irreversible pulpitis on a former healthy tooth), and I am hesitant about a crown prep again.

Now I get dull aching in my jaw off and on, and the occasional toothache for a few seconds, but it comes and goes. It is better when I wear my nightguard and when I sleep with my head propped up.

 

[amicx92]

It’s nice to know I’m not going crazy! I have definitely felt that the past week since I’m hurting on the opposite side of my extraction. I’m not sure I can even classify it as a pain? It’s the weirdest thing. I can just tell something isn’t right. Even though it feels like it’s coming from those specific teeth, it almost feels like it’s coming from somewhere else too. I hope I get some relief after visiting with my TMJ specialist Monday.

I can’t wear my mouthguard right now because it fits on my bottom teeth and that’s where my temp bridge is (my specialist’s nurse said I’m fine for the new splint since it fits at the top!) Anyone have any luck with at home remedies? I’m using muscle relaxers right now, but I don’t think they’re helping much.

 

[Tgsa]

Did everyone’s issues subside? I am having really bad TMJ since a crown was put in that is too short and doesn’t touch the tooth above it all. My theory is the equilibrium of the tooth force has been disrupted causing TMJ?