TMJ, night guard, CPAP combo help needed

I had been experiencing a lot of left ear and sinus pains that varied from day to day and went to an ENT. He said it was TMJ and to have my dentist make a night guard.

I did that and now have the night guard here at home. It is rather toxic (the soft part inside that would be next to the gums) so I have it soaking in vinegar solution to help outgas it (okayed that before I left dentist's office). The OTC one I got isn't this bad but I never boiled and bit it to shape it.

It wasn't what I was anticipating as I was expecting harder plastic and thinner. I can't close my lips well with it in or at least I couldn't at the dentist's office. I told the receptionist as I left there might be problems with all of this.

I use a nasal mask usually (Somnoplus) and wonder if anyone has any experiences with any of this that they can share as this will be a brand new experience for me.

I do have a chin strap coming in a few days but still not sure it will be enough or will hurt more than it will help. I also have a Swift LT coming but won't know how toxic it is until it gets here. I can't get a decent seal with my 3 plus year old Swift but I can work on it more.

Jules, I'm not sure what you are specifically asking here. Can you clarify your questions?
I have had a mouthpiece appliance for TMJ for about 5 years, so perhaps can respond if I know what help you need. My appliance is very thin and hard, and I have no memory of it seeming "toxic" except when it was molded to my mouth.

This is a hard acrylic shell with a softer lining against the gums. The total thickness is more than I expected as I couldn't close the lips with it in. I had been to the dentist on Friday for a cleaning anyhow and was told by the hygienist it would be hard plastic - acrylic. Of course the denturist who made this comes once a week to do this and she might not have known what he made.

I asked the denturist today if he can make a hard one and if he can use the existing molds he made last week. I asked him about materials last week and guess I didn't understand his answers. He said he can make a hard one but the molding needs to be redone. I bet I would get socked for another bill too. Again this is in part why I told the receptionist before I left.

I am chemically sensitive and can't use masks when they are new. I need to let them "age" some as I expect to have to let this "age". A hard acrylic one would not take as long to age.

My TMJ appliance is hard inside & out and only fits against the teeth with very little or no contact with the gums.

Not sure I would want an appliance that is against my gums and so thick I cannot close my lips... strikes me they did not do their best work on that device.

I've had no experience with what you were given. Mine was/is a $750 piece of acrylic for my lower jaw. Not meaning to sound dense, but what are you asking?

Paula, what you are saying is helping. You too Paul.

I don't like that I can't close my lips/mouth with it. This is really molded into the upper teeth and hard to remove - that of course could change with use. A hard thin acrylic piece would have been better imo.

I am concerned about being able to stay with a non-FFM even adding a chin strap as I get lousy numbers on FFMs. I am wondering if I can even use a "nasal" mask or will I have to go back to pillows or the FFM.

I know there are many on the forum with TMJ and on cpap and just wondering what they can say about their own experiences.

Is this kind of night guard typical?

What masks they use?

I just don't know.

Sorry but we had to put down our "bad" cat yesterday - she had hemangiosarcoma and had spleen removed a month ago. When we got the path report from the vet we were told it wouldn't be a long time and that we would have to make a quality of life decision if she didn't bleed to death first. We made that over the weekend.

This cat -

Jules, I am so so sorry about your kitty. Tough to go through such life events and such loss of our little friends.

I'm not "Paula" but I'll plug along here. Yes, an appliance will be initially tight and a little difficult to remove. This only lasts for a few days. I believe that what you have may be completely a ripoff if you cannot close your lips with this mouthpiece. You could do as well with a $10 piece of junk from WalMart that you boil and shape. If you truly have TMJ, there is an incredibly extensive series of measurements that are done by a specialist to get that appliance refined to the "N'th" degree. The science has gone way beyond what you describe you were given.

Yes, you can use a nasal mask with such a TMJ appliance. I have no problem whatever. Perhaps you may have a little bit of drooling you didn't have before, but that usually subsides after your mouth becomes used to the new resident.

Sorry, I thought you were a paula - my mistake.

This guy did molds of my upper and lower teeth a week ago and came back today with this gadget. I was going to stop by the dentist's office on Thursday leave them a check for my part of the bill as we will be going by it and need to know how much to bitch about this. I can see if I carve out the soft plastic I can probably close my lips with it and that might be enough but I hate to destroy it so soon.

Right now I can see the OTC one I got at Safeway for $20 will be better as I can close my mouth with it. I have seen an increase in drool using it.

I was told by the dentist on Friday that they send people to South Sound / Tacoma area with TMJ if the night guard isn't enough. I need it to be enough. Perhaps there would be where they would take more precise measurements.

...I have TMJ and use a CPAP machine ... there is a lot of difference between dentists and what type of night guard they will make for you ... I've had a lot of bad and good experiences since I've had TMJ forever ... you probably would do better with a guard that fits on your lower teeth and it should never be so bulky that you can't close your mouth properly ... I noticed that you mentioned Tacoma so I assume you're in Washington state ... if you are at all near Kirkland WA, I can personally recommend Dr. Greg Nash ... he is a great dentist and will listen to your concerns and has experience with patients with TMJ and CPAP ... he listens ... he even took the time to go over to the lab that made my guard and saw that they understood that it had to be "thin" ...

I am not associated with the practice of Dr Gregory Nash in any way except as a very satisfied customer.

Jules - I can't help with your TMJ appliance, sorry.

I did want to say how sorry I am to hear about Dot. We had spoken of her in some PMs a while back and you told me this was probably coming but you didn't know when.

I know how hard this is for pet owners and wanted you to know I am thinking of you. You will be missing this wonderful member of your family!

I live out near the coast in Grays Harbor County. This dentist has someone come in from Olympia once a week.

I have taken it out the vinegar soak and tried it on again - I can get mouth shut but not easily. I will probably need the chin strap when it gets here. I do have girls tight legs to use right now with my Safeway bought Dentek night guard and since I haven't boiled it yet I might try it over the bottom teeth instead of the top ones.

I worry about getting this thing off in the morning or am I worrying too much. It is very tight on the back molars.

I do not plan to use it until it is less toxic so that might be a day or a month; hard to say, and in the mean time I will use the OTC one. A hard acrylic one would take less time to "outgas".

TY for your reply.

TY Hawthorne. It was time to end it for her and hard for us to adjust to the loss still.

I would just say that messing with your bite is a very tricky and critical thing. Using OTC mouth guards is pretty risky if you actually have TMJ. This appliance that you have is greatly concerning. An appropriate one will not create problems with closing your mouth, unless the dentist has spelled out the steps involved in resolving your bite problems and the treatment. A TMJ specialist will (likely) be fitting you first with a fairly uncomfortable appliance--but will explain that it is a first step in a carefully monitored (weekly or bi-weekly!) refinement of the appliance which is then graduated to a thin acrylic appliance. I went through this for 2 years with a specialist, so can tell you all this with confidence and experience.

I hope this isn't that complicated.

As I said above an ENT diagnosed it during an appt for ear and sinus pain (I think there is more but have to try this first) and said to get the night guard from dentist.

I read on the OTC one that you shouldn't use it for TMJ so I did make the appt with the dentist. I know I have been told by the hygienist that I grind teeth at night but then nothing was said besides that, i.e. no suggestion to get a splint for it.

I did wear braces as a kid so I know my bite was played with back then big time. I wouldn't want to go through a lot of that again. I just want the ear and sinus pain to die down and it has some with the OTC guard.

I am worried about what masks I can use with the denturist made guard when I start to use it.

I have a hard acrylic one as well as some of the other posters. I never had a soft one. This is actually my second round of appliances for TMJ.

Hasn't been a problem (other than the drooling), but then again I wear a Hybrid.

Jules,

I don't have TMJ but am a tooth clencher and have worn a night guard for many years. It is hard acrylic and when new does fit very tight at first but loosens up just a little and is not at all uncomfortable. I can easily close my mouth. My dentist and her staff spent a huge amount of time making sure the appliance fit properly as a poorly fitted one can do damage to your bite. So I had a number of sessions in the dental chair where they put in the appliance, had me bite down on that special paper that leaves a mark on the night guard, then they did grinding on it until all my teeth touched the night guard evenly. I went through this process a couple of times over the course of 18 months because I had a bridge replaced that changed my bite. Bottom line -- a good dentist will do what it takes to give you a proper fit without charging extra for whatever number of fitting sessions it takes. Yes, the night guard is expensive, but it can save you a world of problems down the line.

I use a Swift LT, and that works well for me with my night guard. And yes, I drool a little, but actually less than I did before CPAP. I think I slept with my mouth open a lot back then, but seldom have that problem now.

Good luck -- TMJ is a tough problem and you need a dentist who is very skilled in this area and who is familiar with CPAP.