TMJ pain

[jokingaside]

Hi,


I've been in treatment for various dental problems at a clinic for roughly the past 3 months, consistently once a week, sometimes twice, (2 root canals and crowns, 3 inlays, 2 resins) and have developed a a dull, aching pain in my right TMJ roughly a month ago. After 1 week, I asked the dentist and he shrugged it off as being due to my chewing habits and told me to give it a rest.

I went to another clinic to get it checked out last week (2 weeks after I notified my dentist about the pain) and got it x-rayed. The x-ray revealed signs of wear (off-center by roughly 1 mm). That dentist seemed alarmed when I informed her of the course and timeline of the treatment.

I notified the dentist again about the persisting jaw pain and asked him about any treatment methods or habits to help heal the TMJ pain. Besides telling me about salt rinses and to avoid chewy foods, he told me that treatment was not possible.

Is there any hope that I'll have normal jaw function? Should the dentist have known better to rush treatment on a weekly basis for 3 mos.? What are my options?

[jokingaside]

Also, the pain was at its worst a few weeks ago. It seems to have gotten a bit better, though the side feels...less dense when compared to the right.
I can't remember for the life of me, but does cartilage (hyaline, if I'm remembering this correctly) heal/regenerate?

[jokingaside]

PS The initial x-ray was normal (ie normal spacing)