This is a review of treatment with a temporomandibular joint splint device.

I was sitting at the dinner table with my two daughters, eating a vegetable salad, when suddenly I opened my mouth and every time I moved my jaw, a loud clicking sound occurred, making it impossible to open my mouth, so I had to stop eating.

I learned about the temporomandibular joint and visited a specialized hospital for it. Here, I share my treatment experience, which was filled with fear and anxiety.

 

The sound was so loud that even the daughters next to me could hear the tapping sound.

The three of us were probably worried that some bone in the jaw or ear area might be abnormal, so we were scared and terrified at the thought of having to undergo major surgery.

The children were surprised and told to keep their mouths closed and stay still, so I searched furiously and found only one Korean medicine clinic that could provide treatment at 7 PM.

The doctor said it was temporomandibular joint disorder and performed acupuncture and Chuna therapy, prescribing herbal medicine for a week and recommending continuous visits for treatment.

I received treatment for my temporomandibular joint, but the clicking sound when opening my mouth or moving my jaw did not subside.

I kept hearing a clicking sound, as if my jawbone was coming loose, that didn't stop all night, and even moving my mouth was terrifying and frightening.

After searching all night, I found a specialized temporomandibular joint (TMJ) hospital, which is a dental clinic. I visited the TMJ dental clinic in the morning, waited about an hour since I didn't have an appointment, and received treatment. They diagnosed that my teeth had shifted downward too much, causing strain on my jaw, and I also received a TMJ diagnosis.

Then you explained the treatment method, and since the cause of the temporomandibular joint issue is that the teeth have settled, a splint orthodontic device needs to be used, and all 13 upper teeth must be replaced, with a cost of up to 7 million won. I was very scared and afraid.

 

First, they decided to treat with a splint device, took an impression of the temporomandibular joint splint, paid 600,000 won, and had it fitted. A week later, they returned with instructions to wear it and received a prescription.

I was prescribed muscle relaxants and pain medication for a week, and although the clicking sounds became somewhat less frequent, I only now remembered that I needed to have all 13 upper teeth treated. I was so shocked at the time that I lost my composure, and as I gathered myself, I started to worry about what to do about the 13 teeth.

 

I wore a splint device for the temporomandibular joint for a week, and initially, I visited every two weeks for adjustments to check the occlusion.

Every night, I had to wear the splint correction device, and gradually I stopped hearing the sound. Besides wearing the correction device, the discomfort also disappeared.

If you forget to wear the temporomandibular joint splint correction device for a day or two after about six months, your teeth may come together tightly, causing strain on your jaw and making it difficult. I was worried whether I should do all 13 teeth, but I visited the dental clinic I have been going to and discussed the TMJ treatment process. They said that might not be necessary. They also advised that it might be better to keep my teeth, and if there is no discomfort, I can wear the TMJ splint correction device for life.

If you're really worried, it's better to go to a university hospital for an accurate diagnosis.

So, for now, I plan to continue using the temporomandibular joint splint correction device.