Hi,
I got my tmj from getting my wistom teeth taken out years ago, and I know it was the cause of the hell I live everyday...I think your dentist was wrong for not helping you with your tmj first! I need some of my teeth worked on, that is an excuse he gave you..probably because he does not "know" tmj. I need to finish a root canal I never finished because I am scared to death of dentist and I cant open my mouth at all and everyone I went to before just did not understand my tmj problem, so I have put it off forever. Make sure if you stay with this dentist you tell him to take breaks so you can give your jaw a rest...
I think you need to look around for a good tmj doctor that will help you with the tmj and worry about everything else later..If you suffer from pain like me and others on this board, you will travel a long road of searching for doctor after doctor and spending tons of money on splints, medication, office visit, theapy, etc....I wish you the best of luck and let us know what happens...
Starr