Pain in left side of jaw
Hi everyone, just need some advice as I've seen a few dentists who haven't been any help yet.
My lower jaw will automatically slide out of place to the left when lying down on back, front, or either side (when it slides to the left I cannot open my jaw all the way in that position, I'll often have to slide it back into position in order to open my mouth fully), it's pretty uncomfortable, disturbs sleep, and get some minor ear pain while sleeping and well as minor pain in left side of jaw. Also have some pain in left side of jaw during the day when chewing, when I massage the area it's pretty tender and sore.
A dentist did a neuromuscular scan and gave the following report, though he no longer practices TMJ treatment:
• Both TMJ’s display ‘beaking’ especially on the LHS
• RHS TMJ appears to be positioned more anterior within the fossa
• Evidence of Mandibular notching on the inferior border
• Increased radio-‐opacity of the mandibular bone, commonly associated with parafunction
• Airway appears to be quite broad laterally however is somewhat narrow anteroposteriorly, this puts the patient at increased risk of airway collapse especially if there is concomitant SDB/UARS/OSA
• Elongated uvula with what appears to be a hypertrophic/hypotonic soft palate
• Sinus polyp/retention cyst on the superior border of the RHS maxillary sinus under the RHS Orbit, there is also evidence of a Sinus polyp/retention cyst on the LHS associated with an Underwood’s septa.
• Potential deviated septa with associated widened/hypertrophic RHS middle turbinate
• C2 Dens is somewhat centred in C1 albeit appearing too far anterior
• C2 & C3 appear rotated mediolaterally
• Unidentifiable radiopaque spherical foreign object present in one of the divisions of the Ethmoid sinuses
• Cortical walls of Sella Tursica warrants further investigation, at least by a medical radiologist.
2 dentists have recommended a night splint and if that helps then braces (or similar appliance), but they haven't really explained why I have this problem or what's going on.
Is this normal? would a night splint typically fix this issue? are there other options?
Thanks