Results of Splint Therapy

June 16th
I went into Dr R's office and had a CT scan, x-rays and new molds taken to see how everything was looking.  Having the new molds taken were not any better than it was the first time!

July 2nd
I (very nervously!) had my consultation appointment with Dr R to review my results of the 10 month splint therapy.  Below are the molds that were created:

As you can see the splint allowed my muscles to relax and eliminated my headaches, but totally screwed up my teeth. As in, my teeth do not even touch except the very back 2 teeth on one side and I can make 2 on the other side touch if I concentrate. How the heck is a girl suppose to eat?!?!

Also here are the pictures that they took:

At the time of the consultation we were still waiting to hear the radiologist's analysis of my CT scan and results.  So based on the x-ray, molds, and imaging and my orthodontist's prior experience he recommended that I proceed with TMJD treatment in the form of braces to realign the teeth which would take approximately 18 months.  Then once the teeth were straight (and most likely touching even less) he has a maxillofacial surgeon that he trusts/refers to (and has excellent results) to correct my jaw alignment.  By "correct" he meant break the lower jaw (mandible) to align the bottom teeth to the top teeth and if needed break the upper jaw (maxilla) as well for palate expansion.

AAAHHH!!!

I asked what other options I had.  And he told me that there has been no permanent change to my mouth/jaw structures at this point so I could certainly take out the splint and my teeth would gradually readjust back to where they had been 10 months prior. Which meant I could go back to eating all the foods I was able to eat before the splint, but the headaches, migraines, and pain would likely return.  OR I could consider the splint a permanent friend and just try to wean down the number of hours in the day that I wore it.  This second option is what he recommended if I was not ready to commit to the braces yet.

After talking with my supportive husband, we figured if we were already in it this far we might as well continue with the process and the hope that one day I would be both painfree and eating normally.  So I agreed to get the braces put on in two weeks.  That gave me two weeks to wean out of the splint and eat all the caramel and toffee that my two teeth could manage.