What should i do if my splint for tmj isn't helping?

Bruxism: Is your splint store bought or professionally fabricated? If store bought, consider seeing a dentist who will fabricate an appliance far superior to what you now have. If your appliance has been made by your dentist, then you should be reevaluated to determine if the bite is correct or if other treatments are indicated.

Alernatives: You may need exercises/physical therapy in conjunction with wearing the oral orthotic/splint. Or you may need a splint made of different material (soft vs hard,) upper vs lower splint, when you wear it and the amount of time wearing, or no splint at all. Get more than one opinion

Other ideas: Self treat with soft diet, jaw exercises, massage, heat/cold, OTC pain meds. Physical therapy would be next. Occasionally muscle relaxants, biofeedback. Xrays are done for diagnosis. Surgery usually reserved for serious symptoms not responsive to other treatments.

Alternatives: Most TMJ problems respond to splint therapy. May need a different design or material, or may have to wear it more hrs/day. Soft diet, muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatories, analgesics, bio-feedback may help. You may need occlusal adjustment, orthodontic treatment, and/or jaw surgery. The cause of your joint symptoms must be delineated before appropriate treatment can be chosen.

See OFP specialist: Combo therapy: TMJ stabilization splint therapy combined with non-splint multimodal therapy for TMD effective for the management of temporomandibular disorders. See an Orofacial Pain specialist.