Well years ago I had TMJ problems I saw one of the leaders in the field his name is Dr. Higdon he has written a couple of books on the subject he is Portland Oregon, I wore a splint for 4 years and it never went away I just learned how not to clinch(still get the sounds but no pain) and it is much better, I use to get a kind of lock jaw where I could only open so far would have to shove food though a small space between my teeth, better now for almost ten years. Funny how I was a starving Jeweler back then but after watching the doc use the same exact machines I used for jewelry to carve at my appliance I became intrigued(sp?) and put myself through dental tech school now I make a good living through making these appliances, funny how my TMJ disorder changed my life :)