**Disclaimer**
I'm not a dental professional; I'm just someone who's gone through MAGO splint therapy. Everything I say is only my experience and opinion. You should discuss the MAGO splint with your dentist if you have questions.
***
That being said, I'll offer what I know.
The dentist I worked with originally was a bioesthetic (OBI) dentist. He worked from the philosophy that instead of correcting dysfunction, treatment should focus on creating a functional bite based on nature's model. Basically, that meant repositioning the joints into their most natural position using the MAGO splint, and then (but I never did this) re-shaping the teeth so that they fit together to maintain the ideal joint position. The idea is that nature has come up with an ideal chewing system, so it is best to study that "perfect" system and then make that which does not work look like it does. The typical approach, that of correcting dysfunction, includes traditional braces and surgery. My treatment plan with this dentist included neither of these options--only the splint and crowning all my teeth, at the sweet price of at least $4500 for the splint, and anywhere from $10,000 to $80,000 for the reshaping and crowning.
I began to explore the option of braces and surgery, which, given that my TMJ problems were structurally related in a way that I began to believe the splint would not "fix," I found a surgeon and an orthodontist who also did splint therapy, but gave other treatment options if the splint was not enough. That's where I am now.
The idea behind the MAG0 (maxillary anterior guided orthotic) is that it creates a bite plane that allows your muscles to relax and allow your joint to move to its natural position. If someone has poor occlusion, their jaws will shift in a way to make the teeth meet so that they can chew, talk, etcetera. This is all at the expense of the joint. With the MAGO (fitted to the upper jaw--the maxilla), your bottom teeth come into contact with the splint. The splint is made so that all your teeth come in contact in the "perfect" way, just as if you had no bite problem at all. The splint must be adjusted frequently, as it comes out of adjustment as your muscles relax and your joints shift position. Each time the splint is adjusted, your joints should be closer to their ideal position, and you should have fewer symptoms.
I know people who went through splint therapy very successfully in a few months. I was in the splint for nine months, and had no relief of symptoms, though I could tell my joints had shifted. According to the x-rays taken, I went from active degenerative joint disorder (DJD) to inactive; so even though my symptoms did not go away, some healing did take place.
BUT, I hated the splint. I found it uncomfortable, bulky, and embarrassing. In order for the splint to work effectively, it MUST be worn 24/7, taken out only for brushing. You have to wear when you eat, and it is gross. It is difficult to talk with it. I think it would be difficult for anyone in a professional position, and so I gave up on it. With my asymmetry problems, I think I just was not a good candidate.
Well, if I think of anything more, I'll post it. In the meantime, I'm happy to answer any questions that might be out there.
The dentist I worked with originally was a bioesthetic (OBI) dentist. He worked from the philosophy that instead of correcting dysfunction, treatment should focus on creating a functional bite based on nature's model. Basically, that meant repositioning the joints into their most natural position using the MAGO splint, and then (but I never did this) re-shaping the teeth so that they fit together to maintain the ideal joint position. The idea is that nature has come up with an ideal chewing system, so it is best to study that "perfect" system and then make that which does not work look like it does. The typical approach, that of correcting dysfunction, includes traditional braces and surgery. My treatment plan with this dentist included neither of these options--only the splint and crowning all my teeth, at the sweet price of at least $4500 for the splint, and anywhere from $10,000 to $80,000 for the reshaping and crowning.
I began to explore the option of braces and surgery, which, given that my TMJ problems were structurally related in a way that I began to believe the splint would not "fix," I found a surgeon and an orthodontist who also did splint therapy, but gave other treatment options if the splint was not enough. That's where I am now.
The idea behind the MAG0 (maxillary anterior guided orthotic) is that it creates a bite plane that allows your muscles to relax and allow your joint to move to its natural position. If someone has poor occlusion, their jaws will shift in a way to make the teeth meet so that they can chew, talk, etcetera. This is all at the expense of the joint. With the MAGO (fitted to the upper jaw--the maxilla), your bottom teeth come into contact with the splint. The splint is made so that all your teeth come in contact in the "perfect" way, just as if you had no bite problem at all. The splint must be adjusted frequently, as it comes out of adjustment as your muscles relax and your joints shift position. Each time the splint is adjusted, your joints should be closer to their ideal position, and you should have fewer symptoms.
I know people who went through splint therapy very successfully in a few months. I was in the splint for nine months, and had no relief of symptoms, though I could tell my joints had shifted. According to the x-rays taken, I went from active degenerative joint disorder (DJD) to inactive; so even though my symptoms did not go away, some healing did take place.
BUT, I hated the splint. I found it uncomfortable, bulky, and embarrassing. In order for the splint to work effectively, it MUST be worn 24/7, taken out only for brushing. You have to wear when you eat, and it is gross. It is difficult to talk with it. I think it would be difficult for anyone in a professional position, and so I gave up on it. With my asymmetry problems, I think I just was not a good candidate.
Well, if I think of anything more, I'll post it. In the meantime, I'm happy to answer any questions that might be out there.
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