Early-to-moderate degenerative TMJ changes
I HAVE MET WITH 3 DENTISTS THAT GAVE ME NO SOLUTION BUT ONLY MORE TO WORRY ABOUT😭
The title is how CHATGPT summarized my CBCT report. I have an overbite, never gotten braces. So I had clicking and popping on the left side of my jaw for years, and finally got it checked after being dismissed and gaslit by my neglecting parents. The first dentist I went to said it had something to do with one tooth of mine that is slightly out of place, I thought she knew what she was doing, she gave me a soft splint, I asked her if I needed braces because first, I’ve always wanted them because I have a slight overbite and have rabbit teeth, second because she said my tooth is out of place, she said not necessary, “you have a nice smile”, like ok but pain? Now the problem with the soft splint was that, I could feel it push my front teeth back, in the sense like it was correcting it. I expressed this and she told me to just meet the dental orthopedic. They kept postponing the appointment with the dental orthopedic and I got frustrated cuz I was in extreme pain, couldn’t eat or even talk properly.
The second dentist I met with, they decided to take my wisdoms out on one side(other side was removed years ago) made me get this report, said it was because of an ignored injury or complication during birth, apparently I’m TOO YOUNG(23)to have this kind of problem, then told me to just wear a splint that is slight thicker than the other. For some reason the clicking and popping stopped so I was relived, but the splint? Doing the same and it causes so much pain with my front teeth. I told the dentist about this and she said it’s me subconsciously thinking it is but in reality it doesn’t correct, I told her I need an alternative and she said “either splint or surgery” that’s it. It’s an early to moderate level of degeneration and I can’t believe they’re only giving me two options. I’m frustrated on soul clenching level which is definitely worsening my condition, I’m in extreme pain AGAIN. I can’t even eat properly and I’ve decided to see another dentist and I’m so frustrated that I will have to narrate all of this all over again and explain to them I don’t want a splint and that I’m looking for other options, idk what I will do if they suggest a THICKER splint which I don’t want 😭