Sometimes TMJ issues stem from tight facial muscles pulling the jaw out of whack. Perhaps you might think about getting some therapeutic massage work done before breaking jaws?

d makes a good point. Any point that suggests massage over paying someone to purposefully break your jaw sounds good, because I am a wimp. Maybe a second opinion, Allyson? Was this dentist a regular dentist, or an orthodontist, or oral surgeon, or what have you? There might be other ways to correct your bite. That face is a classic. I'd hesitate to mess with it, too.

I wore a bite plate for TMJ for a few years. After the third time I accidentally threw it out, I gave up on it, but it seemed to be working when I did wear it.

I got braces a second time as an adult (after braces from grades 5-10). My teeth went kablooey when my wisdom teeth came in and after I'd long quit wearing my retainer. My ex started poking fun at my crooked front teeth and I made myself miserable over it, and eventually got braces again. They had to pull 4 teeth, which they didn't want to do when I was a kid cuz, narrow face already. My face definitely looked fuller before the teeth pulling. (I'm verging on collie territory, I fear.) If I had it to do over again, I'm not sure I'd do it. I started grinding my teeth at night so they made my retainer out of the same material as a night guard. It helps prevent headaches in the AM.

Okay, I confess I'm British (Yes, we of the bad teeth fame). Could somebody please explain what TMJ is. And why it's so bad anyone would want to break their jaw to fix it (I'm confused, as I'm rather partial to my jaw... and all my other bones come to think about it. So, unless it was life threatening, I'd be rather reluctant to have any breakages).

All I've managed to come up with so far is Too Much Jaw (or Jaws), but even I don't believe that can possibly be correct.

Temporo-Mandibular Joint. Where your lower jaw is hinged to your skull.

Temporo-Mandibular Joint. Where your lower jaw is hinged to your skull

Ah... much clearer now. Thanks. So ,it's the bit that makes a clicking sound when I do something strange with my jaw.

supposedly my overbite will result in arthritis, eventually. But then, my smoking will result in cancer, eventually. So, there's that.

There is indeed that. Overbites are cute, Cigarettes are pleasing. Where's the justice in that, eh?

Shit, now I'm making a mental list of things wrong with me and things that may eventually kill me. This being particularly relevant since my 'Area Manager' type person today expressed an opinion that I we might be wise to have a separate accident book at work purely to document my mishaps.... I think he's over-reacting, but then I did spend two hours in the Emergency Unit at the Hospital on Thursday... and I was only slicing lemons.

Edited for spelling as I'm having to type with one hand.x

Edited for spelling as I'm having to type with one hand.

Please, don't explain.

Please, don't explain.

HA.

Okay. Won't.