Thelma-Louise
04-10-2006, 04:48 PM
Has anyone ever heard of or been to Dr Stephen David Smith, DMD in Paoli, PA. His web site [removed] seems very interesting and I was wondering if he was worth the 2 1/2 hours it would take me to get there. Or is it all glam and no substance? He also does dispositions for insurance and SSD which I am also have problems with.
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[Do not list websites of doctors or dentists. Please read the board guidelines by clicking the "Posting Rules" above. Thanks - Well-come Moderator.]
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kingkang
04-10-2006, 07:03 PM
Hey Thelma,
I just started going to him. We should talk.
I just started going to him. We should talk.
Thelma-Louise
04-10-2006, 11:58 PM
Hey Thelma,
I just started going to him. We should talk.
How is it going so far? Does it look promising? I just started with my 3rd dentist in Dec and have not seen any improvement at all. I just don't want to wait another 6 mos to realize I wasted my time. But I have been to other dentists which looked real good on web sites and ended up being cosmetic dentists. What type of treatment are you doing?
I just started going to him. We should talk.
How is it going so far? Does it look promising? I just started with my 3rd dentist in Dec and have not seen any improvement at all. I just don't want to wait another 6 mos to realize I wasted my time. But I have been to other dentists which looked real good on web sites and ended up being cosmetic dentists. What type of treatment are you doing?
kingkang
04-11-2006, 10:29 AM
Hi Thelma,
Well, this might be a little long, but anyways, I started going to Dr. Smith about 2 months ago. In May, I'll have my 3rd time seeing him. So far it's been good. Good meaning I've improved in my symptoms. But here's the thing. My symptoms haven't been as bad as some other cases and I was doing things to alleviate the pain, such as yoga, no loud yawning, sleeping with mouth open, no gum chewing, no nail biting, pretty much everything as stated on Brendan Stack's site.
Ok. I won't make this too long, but I picked Dr. Steve Smith b/c he's had at least 20 yrs of experience in TMJ-related things. He's really nice and knowledgeable. First time I went in, I had to do a consult, then he examined me. Second visit, he did some ultrasound and diathermy and molded me for a NTI b/c I clench at night. I don't wear it every night b/c he's making my jaw sore, and not my TMJ joint.
And I'm not sure what you meant by cosmetic dentist? TMJ is definitely not cosmetic worthy. Oh and the receptionists are really nice. But anyways, to note the important stuff, I have improvements. Again, don't know if its from him or from what I'm doing. It's probably b/c of what I'm doing. But I wanted to go spend money at someone who's an expert and not just a general dentist who say they know about tmj. My dentist was going to offer me a nightguard which cost $500. A nightguard that costs $500? First of all, $500 is a lot of money and a nightguard might make it worse, which is why I went to an expert. My motto is pay alot early on so you don't have to pay alot later. But that doesn't mean Dr. Smith is expensive either. My NTI story is an exception (check that post). haha.
Well, this might be a little long, but anyways, I started going to Dr. Smith about 2 months ago. In May, I'll have my 3rd time seeing him. So far it's been good. Good meaning I've improved in my symptoms. But here's the thing. My symptoms haven't been as bad as some other cases and I was doing things to alleviate the pain, such as yoga, no loud yawning, sleeping with mouth open, no gum chewing, no nail biting, pretty much everything as stated on Brendan Stack's site.
Ok. I won't make this too long, but I picked Dr. Steve Smith b/c he's had at least 20 yrs of experience in TMJ-related things. He's really nice and knowledgeable. First time I went in, I had to do a consult, then he examined me. Second visit, he did some ultrasound and diathermy and molded me for a NTI b/c I clench at night. I don't wear it every night b/c he's making my jaw sore, and not my TMJ joint.
And I'm not sure what you meant by cosmetic dentist? TMJ is definitely not cosmetic worthy. Oh and the receptionists are really nice. But anyways, to note the important stuff, I have improvements. Again, don't know if its from him or from what I'm doing. It's probably b/c of what I'm doing. But I wanted to go spend money at someone who's an expert and not just a general dentist who say they know about tmj. My dentist was going to offer me a nightguard which cost $500. A nightguard that costs $500? First of all, $500 is a lot of money and a nightguard might make it worse, which is why I went to an expert. My motto is pay alot early on so you don't have to pay alot later. But that doesn't mean Dr. Smith is expensive either. My NTI story is an exception (check that post). haha.
Thelma-Louise
04-11-2006, 02:31 PM
I'm not sure what my problem is to be honest. It started as pain around the upper left canine and a swelling on the lower left side of my jaw. My nose and eye started to hurt on the left side and then I started to grind the teeth on the left. Progressed to the point I could not move the left side at all. I have dental implants and bridges for the 4 front upper and lower teeth and then they started to hurt really bad. Next thing I knew I went into a full tmj meltdown with all the bells and whistles and haven't been able to work since. Its affected my neck and back, my balance, hearing and vision. One doctor convinced me to replace the bridges and crown my natural teeth in the back and since then my upper and lower jaws no longer meet - My upper jaw goes one way and my lower jaw goes another - so to talk my tongue literally has to push the upper back teeth out of the way. The left TM joint aches a bit and the right one crackes occassionally but my lower jaw aches all the time and my tongue feels crooked and is arched up all the time as well. I always feel like I am choking. When I go to TMJ specialists they say I need a good prosthedontist and yet prosthedonsits keep sending me to TMJ specialists. I'm lost! I was looking for someone like you - can handle TMJ symptoms, pain mgmt and probably in my case a full dental reconstruction. I have already spent thousands on this mess. Splints made my lower jaw hurt even more. I'm ready to pull all my teeth but some drs have said it could get worse if I do. I'm not sure what to do anymore.
kingkang
04-11-2006, 06:32 PM
Well, I got to say that I'll be praying for you. Just hang in there. Its encouraging to know that there are people out there suffering from the things that you have. Most of my friends say "huh, what's TMJ?" Nobody I know has TMJ except those on this site. But again I'll be praying and look into Dr. Smith. He might be good. But you know what? Also, look into Dr. Ira Klemons in Perth Amboy, NJ. It might be closer to you. Also, consider taking some light yoga and work on your posture b/c apparently our posture can affect our TMJ. I got that from a book.
Thelma-Louise
04-11-2006, 06:48 PM
Thanks. I did see dr klemons on the great dr thread. There's also a David Lerner I was going to see, about 40 miles north of me. Someone else on the board had good results from him as well. Good Luck to you!