MoonlightFlame
03-04-2005, 04:43 PM
Hey all, I went to the dentist yesterday...just for a check-up and he told me that I had pretty bad TMJ. He said that to fix it I needed braces.
Is this something any of you have heard of or is he just trying to pump an extra $4,000 out of me?
Thanks!
Ashley
Is this something any of you have heard of or is he just trying to pump an extra $4,000 out of me?
Thanks!
Ashley
Sponsor
cindygal
03-04-2005, 05:11 PM
Yes orthodontic braces will defently help with TMJ
sunshine123
03-04-2005, 05:24 PM
I started wearing braces in July and they have definitely helped me. I had an anterior open bite and it's almost all closed up now. They've helped me, but each person is different. Why don't you get a 2nd opinion? $4,000 is less than I'm paying for braces.
Literati
03-04-2005, 06:41 PM
Hey all, I went to the dentist yesterday...just for a check-up and he told me that I had pretty bad TMJ. He said that to fix it I needed braces.
Is this something any of you have heard of or is he just trying to pump an extra $4,000 out of me?
Thanks!
Ashley
What kind of bite do you have?
Is this something any of you have heard of or is he just trying to pump an extra $4,000 out of me?
Thanks!
Ashley
What kind of bite do you have?
GoodThings
03-05-2005, 01:28 AM
Hey all, I went to the dentist yesterday...just for a check-up and he told me that I had pretty bad TMJ. He said that to fix it I needed braces.
Is this something any of you have heard of or is he just trying to pump an extra $4,000 out of me?
Thanks!
Ashley
Hello Ashley,
What made him think you had a pretty bad tmj? Braces will not help if you don't go throw Phase I of the treatment. And is this guy a traditional american ortho? or FJO type ortho? I personally do not trust traditional type orthos.
take care,
GT
Is this something any of you have heard of or is he just trying to pump an extra $4,000 out of me?
Thanks!
Ashley
Hello Ashley,
What made him think you had a pretty bad tmj? Braces will not help if you don't go throw Phase I of the treatment. And is this guy a traditional american ortho? or FJO type ortho? I personally do not trust traditional type orthos.
take care,
GT
MoonlightFlame
03-05-2005, 01:57 AM
What kind of bite do you have?
Umm, a normal one?
He said my teeth were pushed together, but I don't know exactly what, he really didn't say much to me.
Umm, a normal one?
He said my teeth were pushed together, but I don't know exactly what, he really didn't say much to me.
sunflower22
03-05-2005, 01:05 PM
Most people do splints for TMJ I do.
Literati
03-05-2005, 04:56 PM
Umm, a normal one?
He said my teeth were pushed together, but I don't know exactly what, he really didn't say much to me.
Hmm, if he didn't say much to you about why you need braces, I would ask how his method of treatment would fix your TMJ problem. I'm not sure what "teeth pushed together"...perhaps he means crowding...I have no clue. Either way, you should ask a bunch of questions before spending so much money on orthodontics. If he can't give you the answers, he either a) really doesn't know what's going on or b) may have some communication problems.
Good luck!
He said my teeth were pushed together, but I don't know exactly what, he really didn't say much to me.
Hmm, if he didn't say much to you about why you need braces, I would ask how his method of treatment would fix your TMJ problem. I'm not sure what "teeth pushed together"...perhaps he means crowding...I have no clue. Either way, you should ask a bunch of questions before spending so much money on orthodontics. If he can't give you the answers, he either a) really doesn't know what's going on or b) may have some communication problems.
Good luck!
ADDitude
03-10-2005, 03:39 AM
Getting braces is not the 'standard treatment' for TMJ disorders. Are you in pain? Temple headaches, ear pain, or jaw pain, etc? If you have clicking and popping (without pain), 40% percent of the population has this.
If someone has "pretty bad TMJ" they will be worsened by any kind of dental work...fillings, cleanings, root canals, wisdom teeth extractions & orthodontics, if they are in pain. If it's that bad, a wise doctor would not put himself in a position to worsen a patient's condition. Half the patients that end up in the TMJ office started having pain after some kind of long dental procedure.
USE CAUTION with this orthodontist. People with a perfect bite & perfect teeth have TMJ problems.
If someone has "pretty bad TMJ" they will be worsened by any kind of dental work...fillings, cleanings, root canals, wisdom teeth extractions & orthodontics, if they are in pain. If it's that bad, a wise doctor would not put himself in a position to worsen a patient's condition. Half the patients that end up in the TMJ office started having pain after some kind of long dental procedure.
USE CAUTION with this orthodontist. People with a perfect bite & perfect teeth have TMJ problems.
MoonlightFlame
03-11-2005, 12:00 AM
Getting braces is not the 'standard treatment' for TMJ disorders. Are you in pain? Temple headaches, ear pain, or jaw pain, etc? If you have clicking and popping (without pain), 40% percent of the population has this.
If someone has "pretty bad TMJ" they will be worsened by any kind of dental work...fillings, cleanings, root canals, wisdom teeth extractions & orthodontics, if they are in pain. If it's that bad, a wise doctor would not put himself in a position to worsen a patient's condition. Half the patients that end up in the TMJ office started having pain after some kind of long dental procedure.
USE CAUTION with this orthodontist. People with a perfect bite & perfect teeth have TMJ problems.
I am in A LOT of pain, throbbing, clicking, popping ALL with severe pain. I am very worried, I have not had any dental work because up until now my teeth have been healthy...but I have to get 2 fillings in a couple weeks...he know I have bad pain...
Ashley
If someone has "pretty bad TMJ" they will be worsened by any kind of dental work...fillings, cleanings, root canals, wisdom teeth extractions & orthodontics, if they are in pain. If it's that bad, a wise doctor would not put himself in a position to worsen a patient's condition. Half the patients that end up in the TMJ office started having pain after some kind of long dental procedure.
USE CAUTION with this orthodontist. People with a perfect bite & perfect teeth have TMJ problems.
I am in A LOT of pain, throbbing, clicking, popping ALL with severe pain. I am very worried, I have not had any dental work because up until now my teeth have been healthy...but I have to get 2 fillings in a couple weeks...he know I have bad pain...
Ashley
Katie G
03-18-2005, 01:59 PM
Hi Ashley - you need to get this ortho to open up and communicate better. Just because your teeth are pushed together doesn't mean braces will help TMD. You need to see someone who can diagnostically discover how bad your TMJ problem is. If this ortho didn't do X-rays or any measurements of mouth opening and various positional checks, you did not receive appropriate care for a "bad TMJ" diagnosis.
I don't think braces are the first step in your treatment. Although my TMD physician is an orthodontist, he was very thorough in his evaluation of my TMJ problems and started me on splint therapy during Phase I of treatment. Now I'm in Phase 2 and wearing braces, but the splint was to reposition my jaws in better alignment. Since my teeth are crowded and turned in different places, the braces are for tooth re-alignment. After 2 years of braces, I will have oral sugery to realign my maxilla with my mandible since my bite is now very open. I will then continue with another year of braces.
So don't just start with braces. "Bad TMJ" needs further evaluation and more in-depth treatment. Find another doc if this one won't communicate with you.
Good luck,
Katie G
I don't think braces are the first step in your treatment. Although my TMD physician is an orthodontist, he was very thorough in his evaluation of my TMJ problems and started me on splint therapy during Phase I of treatment. Now I'm in Phase 2 and wearing braces, but the splint was to reposition my jaws in better alignment. Since my teeth are crowded and turned in different places, the braces are for tooth re-alignment. After 2 years of braces, I will have oral sugery to realign my maxilla with my mandible since my bite is now very open. I will then continue with another year of braces.
So don't just start with braces. "Bad TMJ" needs further evaluation and more in-depth treatment. Find another doc if this one won't communicate with you.
Good luck,
Katie G
topazsag78
03-18-2005, 09:32 PM
From what I understand about TMJ is that there are several possible causes. If your TMJ is caused by your teeth not being aligned properly, then it is possible that braces will help. If it is caused by an accident (trauma to your jaw) or because you grind your teeth, probably not. Think of it this way, if your teeth don't align properly then every time you take a bite of food or even when you're at rest with your mouth closed, your muscles in your jaw and your joint have to stretch to try to compensate. Just keep in mind that what ever damage that has already been done to your jaw is not going to magically go away just because you got braces. Only that you are getting rid of the cause (if your teeth aren't aligned.)
GoBarb
04-16-2005, 02:33 AM
Hi,
Well, I wish I was so lucky. I recently decided to get braces. I'm in my 40's. My general dentist referred me to an oral surgeon to look at my horizontal impacted wisdom teeth. The oral surgeon recommended I have atleast one removed, and suggested that I see my orthodonist before deciding on surgery. I just saw the orthodonist yesterday. Well, I was expecting him to tell me to have all my wisdom teeth pulled, but I wasn't expecting him to tell me to have them break my jaw at the same time, since my upper and lower teeth do not line up correctly. So now I'm abit scared about all this surgery and abit unhappy thinking about the cost. I have medical and dental insurance. I asked the orthodonist since he recommend the jaw be broken, if he knew how much that might cost and if it can be done at the same time as the wisdom teeth extraction, and if my medical insurance would cover it because I thought insurance would consider it cosmetic if I wasn't in lots of pain. He wasn't sure on the cost, but he thought I had a good chance with the insurance. Of course, it's my insurance, my money and I don't trust any insurance company. Has anyone gone thru this here recently. I have Metlife dental and 2 health insurances, humana & United Healthcare. Love to hear from anyone on this.
thanks, and good luck :wave:
Well, I wish I was so lucky. I recently decided to get braces. I'm in my 40's. My general dentist referred me to an oral surgeon to look at my horizontal impacted wisdom teeth. The oral surgeon recommended I have atleast one removed, and suggested that I see my orthodonist before deciding on surgery. I just saw the orthodonist yesterday. Well, I was expecting him to tell me to have all my wisdom teeth pulled, but I wasn't expecting him to tell me to have them break my jaw at the same time, since my upper and lower teeth do not line up correctly. So now I'm abit scared about all this surgery and abit unhappy thinking about the cost. I have medical and dental insurance. I asked the orthodonist since he recommend the jaw be broken, if he knew how much that might cost and if it can be done at the same time as the wisdom teeth extraction, and if my medical insurance would cover it because I thought insurance would consider it cosmetic if I wasn't in lots of pain. He wasn't sure on the cost, but he thought I had a good chance with the insurance. Of course, it's my insurance, my money and I don't trust any insurance company. Has anyone gone thru this here recently. I have Metlife dental and 2 health insurances, humana & United Healthcare. Love to hear from anyone on this.
thanks, and good luck :wave:
sunshine123
04-18-2005, 10:03 PM
Hi:
If I were you, I'd get another opinion regarding the need for surgery. Good luck whatever you decide to do.
If I were you, I'd get another opinion regarding the need for surgery. Good luck whatever you decide to do.