[valleyfms]

I am 28 years old and have had problems with TMJ for about five years now. I also suffer from fibromyalgia. My tmj has improved but I still have problems. My dentists has agreed to specially allow me to pay only 300 down and 150.00 a month until I've paid about 3800.00. My husband isn't crazy about the idea. Then there is the pain associated with the braces to consider. Not to mention the money.

[jenn04201]

I would maybe get a second opinion I haven't heard of TMJ being treated with braces. The purpose of braces is to straighten you teeth.

[shoppingcartgirl]

Your husband should be supportive of your health concerns. Braces stop hurting after a while. (until you get them tightened). Use wax to keep the wires from poking. I say do it! Make sure your doc approves!

[dre@itsa.ucsf.edu]

No. Braces often cause TMJ in a small percentage of patients. Why on earth would you want to risk trying to get rid of it with braces. THe odds are agaist success. With TMD(TMJ) the less you agrevate the condition the slower it progresses. Treatment of the symptoms is the usual route for care.

[tomh311]

if your dentist and orthodontist have identified the problems with your bite and the associations with your TMD then you should consider going with the braces. braces only cause TMD when lower teeth are extracted and all the lower anterior teeth are pulled back thus"locking in"your lower front teeth behind your upper front teeth. this is a very stressfull position for the joint. if your orthodontist can get you into a relaxed jaw position then your tmd will go away. you are going to need to have something called a TENS bite done first to figure out that position and only a dentist that sees a lot of tmd is going to have that.your tmd is very treatable but you need to seek the right doctors for help. it's complicated and expensive. this may even involve qutie a bit of travel to other cities.your husband needs to stick it where the sun don't shine by the way.

[teamkimme]

I've had TMJ for 12 years. Get a second opinion on the braces. The two I had both agreed that braces wouldn't help. I wear a night guard. It helps realign my jaw at night and keeps me from grinding my teeth. I still have flare ups with the aching in the joint, but not near as bad. A few doses of Advil liquid gels and it goes away. The only other recourse my doctor has suggested was to have oral surgery and have my jaw broken and realigned.

It is your call. I have TMJ too and got braces when I was 22 and it DID NOT solve my problem!!!!