saaraah
01-20-2004, 01:09 PM
arleen, i was wondering how your appointment went last week at dr. r's.. were you treated better and more kindly?
i also had an appointment on the 13th, and i got my new nightsplint. in a sense, it looks like a very strange NTI. heh. because my bite is so nutty [openbite], janie and dr. r had to completely alter the nightsplint - only some of my molars are covered. ive been too scared to wear it because it feels very loose and it reminds me of the infamous NTI, which gave me an openbite.
i was hoping that the nightsplint would magically make me 100% better today, but ive got a killer migraine. ergh. i'll give the nightsplint some more time, tho, to see what happens to my symptoms.
do you have a nightsplint? i cant imagine you wearing it [the kind dr. r makes] because, after wearing it for the first time last night, my 2 front top teeth were very sore. im not sure how they expect you to wear it because of your gum/teeth pain.
anyway, i have another question for anyone out there - what are the risks of supra eruption?
i wear my nightsplint at night [obviously.. heh], but it doesnt cover all of my back molars. is it possible for my top molars to supra erupt in such a short time of 8 hours while im sleeping? i imagine im being overly paranoid... but im curious. the literature ive seen online said that it can take anywhere from 6 days to 10 years for teeth to supra erupt, and that's when the teeth arent touching at all - but i dont know if i should believe that.
- saaraah.
i also had an appointment on the 13th, and i got my new nightsplint. in a sense, it looks like a very strange NTI. heh. because my bite is so nutty [openbite], janie and dr. r had to completely alter the nightsplint - only some of my molars are covered. ive been too scared to wear it because it feels very loose and it reminds me of the infamous NTI, which gave me an openbite.
i was hoping that the nightsplint would magically make me 100% better today, but ive got a killer migraine. ergh. i'll give the nightsplint some more time, tho, to see what happens to my symptoms.
do you have a nightsplint? i cant imagine you wearing it [the kind dr. r makes] because, after wearing it for the first time last night, my 2 front top teeth were very sore. im not sure how they expect you to wear it because of your gum/teeth pain.
anyway, i have another question for anyone out there - what are the risks of supra eruption?
i wear my nightsplint at night [obviously.. heh], but it doesnt cover all of my back molars. is it possible for my top molars to supra erupt in such a short time of 8 hours while im sleeping? i imagine im being overly paranoid... but im curious. the literature ive seen online said that it can take anywhere from 6 days to 10 years for teeth to supra erupt, and that's when the teeth arent touching at all - but i dont know if i should believe that.
- saaraah.
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Arleen
01-21-2004, 01:42 AM
Hi Saaraah:
Thank you for asking about my appt.They were kind enough, but I still had that feeling of being on an assembly line with no one really taking the time to get to the root of the problem.
I asked several times before I decided to see him if they've dealt with people with sore gums and teeth and managed to get them into splint therapy and the asst, told me yes, yes. So, I start there, and the dentist says no, no, we've never run into this before??! Then when I started wearing the splint and got gum sores and receding papilla, I asked the asst if they've dealt with people with gum sores. Yes, yes, but again the dentist says he's never seen anyone with my problems??! Someone, or both, are lying. I asked if he was going to look at the splint? No, you take care of your gum problems first, then we'll see about the splint. Considering I told them upfront I was concerned about my gums, why did they make me a splint without first sending me to a periodontist? $$$$ I feel so upset and discouraged, and feel very much like I've been lied to and manipulated. I no longer trust that office. The splint also made my front teeth move, even though it doesn't touch them. Other nightguards I wear don't do that. The dentist said because the splint doesn't touch the areas where I have gum sores, it can't be doing that. Yet, my teeth are moving in an area it doesn't touch.
I see a periodontist this week, although I'm not optimistic as it's one suggested by the dentist's office. He met this guy at a conference or something. On a positive note, I'm taking supplements that seem to be helping my gums, which is better than any dentist has suggested.
I think I read somewhere that you paid $1200 for your splints. Is that correct? The reason I ask is because I was quoted $1300 for two, although so far I only have the one, and won't go for another since this one isn't right yet.
Originally the dentist showed me 2 splints, a day and a night one that sounds identifical to what you just got. He had 2 very similar night splints. On witha flat ledge under the front teeth and one with a slanted ledge under the front teeth. He said some people find the slanted one hard on their bottom teeth, so he'd probably start me with the flat ledge if I needed a night splint. He said not everyone did, as some people's jaws stay in place wearing the day splint at night. They reminded me of NTIs too, except that all the teeth were encased. I wondered if it was possible to get an open bite from them. I also wondered about all the pressure on the upper front teeth. I told him my upper teeth can't handle pressure. He seemed to think it would be okay. I've had another dentist tell me that only to find when I got their mouthguard that I couldn't wear it because it put too much pressure on the front. I know these nightguards would put too much pressure on my teeth, so I'm not interested in trying them.
Saaraah, do the splints I described sound like the one you got? Did you get flat or hilly ledge? How did they alter the splint? Do you have your wisdom teeth? When you say it's loose, does it jiggle around? it shouldn't be moving.
I'd be concerned too if it didn't cover all my molars. I asked before I went there about if they made splints that cover the wisdoms, as I have all 4 of mine. I was told yes, and when I had my impression taking appt, they were having a hard time getting them into the mould. At one point the dentist mentioned to his asst about pulling them. I was shocked how cavalierly they viewed my wisdom teeth, although I've found that attitude at other dentists' offices too. There's no way I'd have my wisdoms pulled. They perfectly healthy teeth. They figured they might not be able to put them on the splint, but I was insistent. When I got the splint, most of the surface has metal mesh under the surface to give it strength - but not on the wisdoms, so I'm wondering if they will one day suggest removing those spots.
If you're worried about teeth erupting, maybe only wear the splint at night. If you eat without it, your teeth will be hitting opposing surfaces, so hopefully that's enough each day that they won't erupt. I don't know how long it takes for teeth to erupt. Maybe someone else on the board knows?? But teeth absolutely can erupt if they've no opposing surface. During the day, do you wear a splint that touches these teeth that don't touch at night?
I've found YOU have to look out for yourself. Talk to the dentist about this. Perhaps insist that they do something to the splint to ensure this doesn't happen. They've got their own lab, they can add material to the splint to cover all your molars. Let them find another way for that splint to fit you. If your teeth do erupt, it's you (not them) who have to live with it. To them, it will mean more money, as they go about correcting the problem. Easy to tell you to be insistence, but I'm still angry at myself because I didn't insist that they look at my splint and do something about it on my last appt.
Anyway, sorry to grip so much. I'm just so discouraged and feel I've spent money that could have been used better elsewhere. This is a big concern since I haven't worked in a year. Please let me know how you do with the splint and what the dentist's office says about your problems. A migraine headache is not a good sign.
Take care.
Thank you for asking about my appt.They were kind enough, but I still had that feeling of being on an assembly line with no one really taking the time to get to the root of the problem.
I asked several times before I decided to see him if they've dealt with people with sore gums and teeth and managed to get them into splint therapy and the asst, told me yes, yes. So, I start there, and the dentist says no, no, we've never run into this before??! Then when I started wearing the splint and got gum sores and receding papilla, I asked the asst if they've dealt with people with gum sores. Yes, yes, but again the dentist says he's never seen anyone with my problems??! Someone, or both, are lying. I asked if he was going to look at the splint? No, you take care of your gum problems first, then we'll see about the splint. Considering I told them upfront I was concerned about my gums, why did they make me a splint without first sending me to a periodontist? $$$$ I feel so upset and discouraged, and feel very much like I've been lied to and manipulated. I no longer trust that office. The splint also made my front teeth move, even though it doesn't touch them. Other nightguards I wear don't do that. The dentist said because the splint doesn't touch the areas where I have gum sores, it can't be doing that. Yet, my teeth are moving in an area it doesn't touch.
I see a periodontist this week, although I'm not optimistic as it's one suggested by the dentist's office. He met this guy at a conference or something. On a positive note, I'm taking supplements that seem to be helping my gums, which is better than any dentist has suggested.
I think I read somewhere that you paid $1200 for your splints. Is that correct? The reason I ask is because I was quoted $1300 for two, although so far I only have the one, and won't go for another since this one isn't right yet.
Originally the dentist showed me 2 splints, a day and a night one that sounds identifical to what you just got. He had 2 very similar night splints. On witha flat ledge under the front teeth and one with a slanted ledge under the front teeth. He said some people find the slanted one hard on their bottom teeth, so he'd probably start me with the flat ledge if I needed a night splint. He said not everyone did, as some people's jaws stay in place wearing the day splint at night. They reminded me of NTIs too, except that all the teeth were encased. I wondered if it was possible to get an open bite from them. I also wondered about all the pressure on the upper front teeth. I told him my upper teeth can't handle pressure. He seemed to think it would be okay. I've had another dentist tell me that only to find when I got their mouthguard that I couldn't wear it because it put too much pressure on the front. I know these nightguards would put too much pressure on my teeth, so I'm not interested in trying them.
Saaraah, do the splints I described sound like the one you got? Did you get flat or hilly ledge? How did they alter the splint? Do you have your wisdom teeth? When you say it's loose, does it jiggle around? it shouldn't be moving.
I'd be concerned too if it didn't cover all my molars. I asked before I went there about if they made splints that cover the wisdoms, as I have all 4 of mine. I was told yes, and when I had my impression taking appt, they were having a hard time getting them into the mould. At one point the dentist mentioned to his asst about pulling them. I was shocked how cavalierly they viewed my wisdom teeth, although I've found that attitude at other dentists' offices too. There's no way I'd have my wisdoms pulled. They perfectly healthy teeth. They figured they might not be able to put them on the splint, but I was insistent. When I got the splint, most of the surface has metal mesh under the surface to give it strength - but not on the wisdoms, so I'm wondering if they will one day suggest removing those spots.
If you're worried about teeth erupting, maybe only wear the splint at night. If you eat without it, your teeth will be hitting opposing surfaces, so hopefully that's enough each day that they won't erupt. I don't know how long it takes for teeth to erupt. Maybe someone else on the board knows?? But teeth absolutely can erupt if they've no opposing surface. During the day, do you wear a splint that touches these teeth that don't touch at night?
I've found YOU have to look out for yourself. Talk to the dentist about this. Perhaps insist that they do something to the splint to ensure this doesn't happen. They've got their own lab, they can add material to the splint to cover all your molars. Let them find another way for that splint to fit you. If your teeth do erupt, it's you (not them) who have to live with it. To them, it will mean more money, as they go about correcting the problem. Easy to tell you to be insistence, but I'm still angry at myself because I didn't insist that they look at my splint and do something about it on my last appt.
Anyway, sorry to grip so much. I'm just so discouraged and feel I've spent money that could have been used better elsewhere. This is a big concern since I haven't worked in a year. Please let me know how you do with the splint and what the dentist's office says about your problems. A migraine headache is not a good sign.
Take care.
Marlene
01-21-2004, 02:04 PM
Arleen,
I can vouch from personal experience that Dr. Rondeau's office is most likely doing what they feel is best for your "particular case". It sounds like you don't feel this is the right treatment/dentist for you? Many TMJ sufferers have felt this way numerous times, and have felt it best to move on and "try again".
Marlene
I can vouch from personal experience that Dr. Rondeau's office is most likely doing what they feel is best for your "particular case". It sounds like you don't feel this is the right treatment/dentist for you? Many TMJ sufferers have felt this way numerous times, and have felt it best to move on and "try again".
Marlene
Arleen
01-21-2004, 02:33 PM
Hi Marlene:
I don't know if this is the right treatment for me or not, but I feel I've been very misled. When I'm getting two different answers on whether they've treated people with gum problems before, and yet they're both treating the same patients, something is off.
It's easy to say move on, but I haven't worked in over a year and I've just spent a lot of money with this office. That's why I'm so upset. They knew about my gum problems, so why didn't they send me to a perio first before taking my money for a splint I can't wear? I told them up front about my gums and the trouble I had wearing my last splint.
Because my teeth and gums are sensitive, I started out wearing the splint to sleep, thinking maybe I could build up to wearing it 24/7. Then my papilla started receding and I noticed when I was flossing that some of the front teeth had bigger spaces between them, so the splint was obviously moving my teeth. I drove 2 hours, stayed overnight in a hotel so I could be on time for my 9:30 appt and not worry about getting caught in snow, and they don't even bother to look at the splint. It was like they took no responsibility for it doing any of the things I was experiencing because they said it doesn't even touch the front teeth. Yet when I wear my old nightguard, it doesn't move my teeth like that. Nor does it make my papilla recede. Because of snow on the way home, I was on the road for 5 hours (yes, I know that wasn't the office's fault), but it all adds up to a very bad experience.
And it's money I no longer have to spend on a new dentist. I doubled check several times before I saw him that they've had people with sore gums and sensitive teeth and that they managed to get them into splint therapy. I was told yes. I was also told yes, they've had people who get gum sores. And once I'm there and I've paid some money, I'm told no, that's not the case? If I had been told no at first, I wouldn't have gone there.
I know you think very highly of the office and I'm glad they were able to help you with your problems. I feel like I've spent a lot of money and was lied to, and I don't know what to do next, and I have no income. It's so upsetting.
Take care.
I don't know if this is the right treatment for me or not, but I feel I've been very misled. When I'm getting two different answers on whether they've treated people with gum problems before, and yet they're both treating the same patients, something is off.
It's easy to say move on, but I haven't worked in over a year and I've just spent a lot of money with this office. That's why I'm so upset. They knew about my gum problems, so why didn't they send me to a perio first before taking my money for a splint I can't wear? I told them up front about my gums and the trouble I had wearing my last splint.
Because my teeth and gums are sensitive, I started out wearing the splint to sleep, thinking maybe I could build up to wearing it 24/7. Then my papilla started receding and I noticed when I was flossing that some of the front teeth had bigger spaces between them, so the splint was obviously moving my teeth. I drove 2 hours, stayed overnight in a hotel so I could be on time for my 9:30 appt and not worry about getting caught in snow, and they don't even bother to look at the splint. It was like they took no responsibility for it doing any of the things I was experiencing because they said it doesn't even touch the front teeth. Yet when I wear my old nightguard, it doesn't move my teeth like that. Nor does it make my papilla recede. Because of snow on the way home, I was on the road for 5 hours (yes, I know that wasn't the office's fault), but it all adds up to a very bad experience.
And it's money I no longer have to spend on a new dentist. I doubled check several times before I saw him that they've had people with sore gums and sensitive teeth and that they managed to get them into splint therapy. I was told yes. I was also told yes, they've had people who get gum sores. And once I'm there and I've paid some money, I'm told no, that's not the case? If I had been told no at first, I wouldn't have gone there.
I know you think very highly of the office and I'm glad they were able to help you with your problems. I feel like I've spent a lot of money and was lied to, and I don't know what to do next, and I have no income. It's so upsetting.
Take care.
saaraah
01-21-2004, 10:16 PM
*sigh*.. arleen. i feel so upset to hear of the problems you've had at the office. i dont understand why they would give you conflicting reports.. all that i can think of is money. ugh. im sorry.
i was thinking.. didnt they take a lot of pictures of your teeth and gums before starting splint therapy? if so, that's evidence showing what has happened to your gums.
i completely agree with you - it certainly sounds like you were manipulated.
btw, what's the periodontists name [if you dont mind saying]?
yup, i actually paid about $1200 for my splints plus about $100 for lab fees. i didnt get charged for my nightsplint because they had to drastically alter it, so janie wasnt sure if it'd do the job.
my nightsplint has a slanted ledge under the front teeth. i asked about the possiblity of getting a worse openbite from it, but i was told that it wouldnt be possible because my bottom jaw wouldnt be able to 'get behind' the ramp. im still nervous, tho, because i dont trust health professionals at all.
my nightsplint was altered by cutting off the back parts of the splint, so that only a couple of molars are covered. im not sure exactly why this was done except for the fact that i have a nutty open bite. the nightsplint doesnt seem stable - it's not tight enough, so im going to try to move the prongs in a bit to see if that'll help.
i have 2 or 3 wisdom teeth in, i believe. they also had problems taking molds including my wisdom teeth, too.
during the day, i wear my daytime splint, and my teeth touch which dont touch at night, so i imagine they wont erupt.
i really hope you have some success with the periodontist you'll be seeing.
take care,
- saaraah.
i was thinking.. didnt they take a lot of pictures of your teeth and gums before starting splint therapy? if so, that's evidence showing what has happened to your gums.
i completely agree with you - it certainly sounds like you were manipulated.
btw, what's the periodontists name [if you dont mind saying]?
yup, i actually paid about $1200 for my splints plus about $100 for lab fees. i didnt get charged for my nightsplint because they had to drastically alter it, so janie wasnt sure if it'd do the job.
my nightsplint has a slanted ledge under the front teeth. i asked about the possiblity of getting a worse openbite from it, but i was told that it wouldnt be possible because my bottom jaw wouldnt be able to 'get behind' the ramp. im still nervous, tho, because i dont trust health professionals at all.
my nightsplint was altered by cutting off the back parts of the splint, so that only a couple of molars are covered. im not sure exactly why this was done except for the fact that i have a nutty open bite. the nightsplint doesnt seem stable - it's not tight enough, so im going to try to move the prongs in a bit to see if that'll help.
i have 2 or 3 wisdom teeth in, i believe. they also had problems taking molds including my wisdom teeth, too.
during the day, i wear my daytime splint, and my teeth touch which dont touch at night, so i imagine they wont erupt.
i really hope you have some success with the periodontist you'll be seeing.
take care,
- saaraah.
Arleen
01-21-2004, 11:01 PM
Hi Saaraah:
Do you live near the dentist's office? If adjusting the prongs doesn't make it fit better, I'd go in to see them. Tell them you're worried about eruption. If the teeth that don't touch at night, touch during the day, that could be enough to stop them from erupting. As to getting an open bite, even though your bottom teeth can't get behind the ramp, can they push against the front of the ramp? If so, couldn't that force them outwards?
I feel like I was manipulated and that money was the motivating factor. They took many piectures of my mouth and gums. I wasn't wearing the splint when I saw them last so didn't have as many gums sores. They didn't check my gums or the splint. The hygeniest did perio charting and noted that my papilla were blunted.
I was charged $1300 for splints and $140 for lab. After my experience with this splint, I don't plan on getting the night one as there's no way I could wear it. I wonder why I was charged $140 more than you?? My splint is a lower, covers my molars/wisdoms, has 3 hooks on each side, mesh overlay on the front 2 molars on each side, doesn't cover the front 6 teeth but has acrylic that's shaped and fitted to the backside of the front 6 teeth. Does this sound at all like your day splint?
Did you have to sign informed consent and payment forms? On my informed consent form, he wrote that I have neck problems (I don't have any neck pain although my vertebrae are too close together). He also wrote that he's recommended chiropratic. I told him I hadn't worked in over a year and couldn't afford it, so he wrote that on the form too. I thought that was totally uncalled for, and should not have signed.
The perio's name is Murray Arlin. If you know anything about him (good or bad), let me know.
I hope you get your splint problem sorted out soon. Take care.
Do you live near the dentist's office? If adjusting the prongs doesn't make it fit better, I'd go in to see them. Tell them you're worried about eruption. If the teeth that don't touch at night, touch during the day, that could be enough to stop them from erupting. As to getting an open bite, even though your bottom teeth can't get behind the ramp, can they push against the front of the ramp? If so, couldn't that force them outwards?
I feel like I was manipulated and that money was the motivating factor. They took many piectures of my mouth and gums. I wasn't wearing the splint when I saw them last so didn't have as many gums sores. They didn't check my gums or the splint. The hygeniest did perio charting and noted that my papilla were blunted.
I was charged $1300 for splints and $140 for lab. After my experience with this splint, I don't plan on getting the night one as there's no way I could wear it. I wonder why I was charged $140 more than you?? My splint is a lower, covers my molars/wisdoms, has 3 hooks on each side, mesh overlay on the front 2 molars on each side, doesn't cover the front 6 teeth but has acrylic that's shaped and fitted to the backside of the front 6 teeth. Does this sound at all like your day splint?
Did you have to sign informed consent and payment forms? On my informed consent form, he wrote that I have neck problems (I don't have any neck pain although my vertebrae are too close together). He also wrote that he's recommended chiropratic. I told him I hadn't worked in over a year and couldn't afford it, so he wrote that on the form too. I thought that was totally uncalled for, and should not have signed.
The perio's name is Murray Arlin. If you know anything about him (good or bad), let me know.
I hope you get your splint problem sorted out soon. Take care.
saaraah
01-21-2004, 11:19 PM
arleen - i live about 1.5 hours away from london, but my parents usually come the day before and pick me up. i spend the night at their house, and then drive to london, which is about a 40 minute drive. i would like to go back and see them, but im going on a cruise in february. if i continue to have problems with the prongs, i'll definitely try to get in to the office.
i also asked them about the teeth being pushed outwards, but janie said that my teeth would not move.
in total, ive spent $1965.00 at that office, which includes the consult, diagnostic testing, and splint payments. i still have $100 left to pay, which means that my splint cost $1340 [same as you]. your splint sounds exactly the same as mine. i also had to sign the consent form, which i got a copy of.
oh, and i havent heard of that perio.. i dont really have any experience [well, i have none] in that area. :)
take care and good luck.
- saaraah.
i also asked them about the teeth being pushed outwards, but janie said that my teeth would not move.
in total, ive spent $1965.00 at that office, which includes the consult, diagnostic testing, and splint payments. i still have $100 left to pay, which means that my splint cost $1340 [same as you]. your splint sounds exactly the same as mine. i also had to sign the consent form, which i got a copy of.
oh, and i havent heard of that perio.. i dont really have any experience [well, i have none] in that area. :)
take care and good luck.
- saaraah.
Marlene
01-22-2004, 12:22 AM
My one and only experience with a Periodontist was a "contributing factor" if you will, to my TMJ problems. It was several years ago. I had to have deep scaling done, plus a skin graft on the gumline at the base of one of my lower front teeth. The tooth wasn't firmly rooted in the bone, and this periodontist said eventually it would fall out. I had to be put in what I call a "jaw spreader" that kept my mouth wide open in order to do the graft. His "mistake" was that I was in it for 2 full hours, without any breaks so that I could close my mouth. Needless to say, after the 2 hours, I couldn't close my mouth. He "frantically" massaged my jaw joints and luckily was able to get them closed. He said he'd had cases where patients weren't able to close after such a procedure, and he'd had to send them to the hospital for a Valium injection to get their mouths closed!!! That cost me over $2000, and you know what? I ended up having that tooth pulled at Dr. Rondeau's office because the graft did absolutely nothing! With that tooth "out of the way" he was able to close the space left during the braces phase of my treatment.
I live over 2 hrs. away from London myself - on the shores of Lake Huron - it doesn't get any "snowier" than that!!! I used to book my appointments for closer to noon instead of early in the morning, and found them to be very accommodating. You're lucky that you can at least drive yourself to your appointments. I could barely walk, let alone work or drive myself.
Perhaps I am somewhat "biased" in singing the praises of Dr. Rondeau. I had lots of "reservations" throughout my treatment course, because things weren't progressing as fast as I wanted them to, and I was never entirely sure that it would help. It was a long, hard struggle almost all the way. Perhaps I chose to look at things the way they are (whether I like it or not) - time is money to doctors, dentists, surgeons, etc., etc. This is their living. They may have "flunked bedside/chairside manner 101" - lots of professionals can be like that. But, for me, I don't particularly care what "holier than thou" attitude they may exhibit - if they've got the "smarts" to solve my problem, what do I care? I know I was lucky at the time I was seeing Dr. Rondeau. He wasn't as busy then as he obviously is now, and wasn't away quite as much teaching/lecturing. Thank God he IS continuing to teach about treating TMJ to other dentists, so they can become as adept at treating it as he is. (Hey, it's a thankless job but somebody's got to do it.)
I think we have to remind ourselves from time to time that doctors/dentists/others in the health care profession are human the same as we are (albeit a little smarter?). However, when one is in pain, it becomes frustrating/disillusioning to receive conflicting points of view, or to have to think that maybe this professional can't help me. Unfortunately, proper TMJ treatment doesn't come cheap, and the days of personal attention and hand-holding in health care are for the most part a thing of the past.
I'm getting off my soapbox now - to blow out my driveway for the third time today - LOL!!
Marlene
I live over 2 hrs. away from London myself - on the shores of Lake Huron - it doesn't get any "snowier" than that!!! I used to book my appointments for closer to noon instead of early in the morning, and found them to be very accommodating. You're lucky that you can at least drive yourself to your appointments. I could barely walk, let alone work or drive myself.
Perhaps I am somewhat "biased" in singing the praises of Dr. Rondeau. I had lots of "reservations" throughout my treatment course, because things weren't progressing as fast as I wanted them to, and I was never entirely sure that it would help. It was a long, hard struggle almost all the way. Perhaps I chose to look at things the way they are (whether I like it or not) - time is money to doctors, dentists, surgeons, etc., etc. This is their living. They may have "flunked bedside/chairside manner 101" - lots of professionals can be like that. But, for me, I don't particularly care what "holier than thou" attitude they may exhibit - if they've got the "smarts" to solve my problem, what do I care? I know I was lucky at the time I was seeing Dr. Rondeau. He wasn't as busy then as he obviously is now, and wasn't away quite as much teaching/lecturing. Thank God he IS continuing to teach about treating TMJ to other dentists, so they can become as adept at treating it as he is. (Hey, it's a thankless job but somebody's got to do it.)
I think we have to remind ourselves from time to time that doctors/dentists/others in the health care profession are human the same as we are (albeit a little smarter?). However, when one is in pain, it becomes frustrating/disillusioning to receive conflicting points of view, or to have to think that maybe this professional can't help me. Unfortunately, proper TMJ treatment doesn't come cheap, and the days of personal attention and hand-holding in health care are for the most part a thing of the past.
I'm getting off my soapbox now - to blow out my driveway for the third time today - LOL!!
Marlene
Arleen
01-22-2004, 07:43 PM
Hi Marlene:
I hope you feel better having got all that off your chest. I'm so sorry to hear about your awful periodontist experience.
Take care.
I hope you feel better having got all that off your chest. I'm so sorry to hear about your awful periodontist experience.
Take care.
Marlene
01-22-2004, 08:59 PM
No, I wasn't getting anything off my chest - JMO.
Marlene :jester:
Marlene :jester:
sandra1
01-27-2004, 08:49 PM
Saaraah,
I read your post regarding your concerns about supra eruption......your nightsplint that doesn't cover your molars. My question to you is.....are you talking about just your back molars or your wisdom teeth? I am just wondering because I had a supra eruption of my wisdom teeth as a result of my old biteplate that didn't cover my wisdom teeth. I think I remember before, that you and I had discussed this subject of supra eruption.
I would love to hear from you.....again.
Sandi
I read your post regarding your concerns about supra eruption......your nightsplint that doesn't cover your molars. My question to you is.....are you talking about just your back molars or your wisdom teeth? I am just wondering because I had a supra eruption of my wisdom teeth as a result of my old biteplate that didn't cover my wisdom teeth. I think I remember before, that you and I had discussed this subject of supra eruption.
I would love to hear from you.....again.
Sandi