limited opening of mouth?

recently iam suffering from limited opening of my mouth (two finger only) i use topical analgesia several times a day, muscle relaxant,NSAD,and heat therapy...

this condition is new for me and i suffer from it twice this mount the first time it open and after two weeks it recur and now iam in my 7th day and no response except couple times in this week after wake-up it opens for 5 seconds only and i hear a sand like criptation...

by the way i have clicking TMJ sice 2006 but i have advices and Exercise for TMJ and i have no problem until now ( this mouth i have stress and wary )

please your advice

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Long term problems with a click.
by: Dr. Spainhower

Hello Nick,

Your Oral surgeon gives good advice. Also, there is no cure for the popping and clicking past 1-2 months from when the popping started.

People with a true lock (slipping disc)are however more susceptible to having more problems down the road.

For people with limited opening issues where the disc is causing the problem, usually it's better to not do surgery

With surgery, you could have permanent limited opening as well, but not as severe as 32 mm.

For example: If you can open your mouth 45mm normally, then you have a closed lock situation that gives you a maximum opening of 32mm, you'll usually be able to open that within hours or days. Then you'll go back to be able to open to 45mm.

With surgery, you usually will only be able to open to about 38 mm maximum. So, your click is fixed, but your opening is maxed out at 38 mm. This limits you a bit to eat the big apples, and the big hamburgers...some of the benefits of life.

So, Not doing surgery is typically accepted as being the better of the of the two evils.

It is an individual choice dependent on the symptoms and situation.

Sincerely,

Dr. Spainhower

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Long Term effects of a torn disc (clicking)
by: Nick

The writer notes clicking since 2006 and now this limited opening. Do you thinik the two are related and do you feel the long term effects of the dislocated disc will ultimately cause this kind of problem. My oral surgeon recommended against surgery but also had no remedy or advice about the clicking other than take ib prufen. I don t see how that helps other than alleviate a sore jaw.

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closed mouth
by: Dr. Spainhower

Hello,

The cure to your closed mouth can be one or more of several causes, but the quick "Help" to relax your TMJ muscles is to wear a night guard. Go to...http://www.simple-tmj-treatment.com/MouthguardsforTMJ.html and purchase the SmartGuard Combo pack as it has two different designs in it.

Then you'll be able to have both to try and wear to see which one works better for you. If you have a tiny mouth, the original might work best for you. If you have an average size mouth or larger, the Elite might work better for you.

Good luck,

Sincerely,

Dr. Spainhower

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