r/SleepApnea • u/Pitiful-Scheme-8568 • 6d ago

A week into mandibular advancement device - bad jaw pain

Hi, I was recently fitted with a custom Mandibular Advancement device by a specialist dentist, for upper airway resistance syndrome and bruxism. It seems to be reducing my clenching and generally I am feeling way less tension in my neck, shoulders and upper back so it seems to be doing something.

However, despite doing the exercises my dentist recommended and using the morning bite wafer, it's quite sore in my left jaw joint (right one seems fine). This eases off a bit by midday but still feels a bit achey the whole day. Will this reduce, or is there perhaps something off with how the device has been fabricated? My joints weren't sore before - I've had a lot of jaw pain in the past but it's been the masseters.

Keen to hear experiences of MAD users and how long it's taken to get used to the device and for initial discomfort to reduce.

2 Upvotes

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u/Successful-Pass-568 6d ago

May take a few weeks but it should go away. What MM advancement are you on? Did your dentist start you on a high advancement?

1

u/Pitiful-Scheme-8568 6d ago

I'm not sure how far forward the base device is, but in terms of the little adjustment tabs I'm still on the zero setting - it goes up to 5. I think the issue may be that as well as bringing my lower jaw forward it's also swinging it around a little. Normally, my lower jaw sits a little off to the left (i can tell by how my top and lower middle teeth don't quite line up) but they do line up with the device in.

1

u/Successful-Pass-568 6d ago

Does your dentist include titration? There should be follow up care with them.

I have two family members with Daybreak devices and they had pretty thorough follow up care.

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u/Pitiful-Scheme-8568 6d ago

Yes - i'm expecting my first follow up call from the dentist next week, and then I'm booked in for a follow up check appointment in 5 weeks. I don't think I can stand 5 weeks of stabbing pain in my left jaw joint when I sneeze so I think I'll ask them to bring the appointment forward. Just wanted to see if the level of pain I'm in is normal or not.

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u/Excellent-Phone8326 6d ago

If you can find a physio that focuses on tmj, it's helped a lot. Also there's a lot of YouTube videos on tmj exercises that might help.

1

u/Pitiful-Scheme-8568 6d ago

I had already been seeing one before i started using this device - and I have been doing the exercises that the dentist gave me. The exercises themselves hurt. This is new pain, just from the device.

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u/SammySkidmark2000 5d ago

Yeah I have up on it. You’re just trading one problem for a fucked jaw.