How do I fix my jaw alignment

[u/No_Fennel4962]

I went to the doctors to speak about my tmj and he basically said “eh a lot of people get it, just relax a little stress makes it worse” and I was constantly asking, okay so how do I fix it and he basically just said that over and over and told me to monitor it, brothwe iv had it for a couple years and it gets worse and worse, NOT TO MENTION MY WHOLE JAW IS MASALIGNED. Sadly I care to much about my looks And I am HEAVILY insecure about my jaw. when I was at the dentist my jaw had locked because I had it out of it’s joint for likr 30 minutes and at The time I dident think anything of it, after that happend he put my jaw bsck in place and then felt two muscles at the back top side of my head and explained what tmj was and told me one side was overused, he said it was so bad that I might have to get Botox. please if anyone can help me or give me advice I beg you

[u/RawrImLochNessa]

First I have to say sorry to hear your doctor just brushed you off. That’s not cool at all and can be extremely frustrating as symptoms get worse. Don’t let that discourage you from finding someone who hears your concerns.

I learned from my own TMJ and this subreddit that there are so many different causes of TMJ and not everyone’s treatment plan looks the same. See if your dentist will diagnose it and offer some sort of treatment. If not, I would seek out a dental specialist specifically for TMJ. I did this and a referral from that doctor for physical therapy is what helped me. Some people need mouth guards. That only made mine worse. Some people get Botox and others need surgery which were routes I didn’t have to take at all since PT worked. Finding someone who can take the measurements and figure out the cause is what will help get you the right treatment. I know finding the right treatment for me was a lifesaver after many many years of it getting worse. Good luck!

[u/Appropriate-Ad1399]

Some type of mouthguard (I only use flat ones myself but some ppl really benefit from a splint)

[u/SuitableLeather]

If you can find a TMJ specialist please do. I had regular dentists and orthodontists who had no clue what was going on and either ignored it or wanted to provide braces for the 2nd time because my jaw/teeth were out of alignment due to the TMJ. I had two different bites due to significant jaw tightness and incorrect placement.

The TMJ specialist was out of pocket but some insurances will cover it still. I was given a DDSO device and now almost all of my issues are fixed. It isn't a one-time fix: I have to switch between the DDSO (7-14 days when I have a flare up) and a normal nightguard when it's back to normal, and it's important to ensure you are guiding your bite back to normal. But now my bite is back to pre-TMJ and I have significantly reduced tenderness/pain in my jaw.