I was diagnosed with TMJ in June 2010, and was made a custom night guard that I wear when I'm sleeping. My doctor said I had a pretty sever case.. meaning a 9/10 (if 10 was the worst). I've stayed away from chewy foods, and have really tried to limit my jaw movement, but my jaw is still popping (really loudly, to the point if I'm eating or talking, people will hear... especially in the morning) and still hurting. In addition, I've noticed on my night guard that there's a lot of wear and tear (dents in it from grinding/clenching). I also notice that when I'm relaxed or reading, I slide my jaw either in front of my front teeth, so that my bottom teeth are in front of my front teeth or to the side, so I have an uneven bite.
I don't know much about the treatment options besides the guard, but I'm only 20 and don't think this is an ideal situation for the rest of my life. I've also been waking up with ear pain, I'm assuming from clenching. Please let me know what other treatment options there are, and if I should go back to my dentist. Is this normal?
Thanks