finding a doctor - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

honeybee81 · 09-11-2002, 10:17 PM

I've been reading a lot of posts and it is amazing how many people have this condition and it is still pretty much incurable.

I think I have had TMJD since I was a kid, but have only been diagnosed recently. I live in the St. Louis, MO area and have a terrible time finding doctors that will do anything about this. I have pretty good health insurance, but no dental coverage.
I've been to an oral surgeon (because of widsom teeth, but I asked him about TMJ) who took x-rays and said removing my teeth may help my jaw by giving my teeth more room. Well, that cost me a $grand and has helped the pain in my mouth (i no doubt needed the teeth to come out) but my jaw is still in pain. I don't want to go back to him ($$).
My primary doc. prescribed Naproxin (anti-inflamatory) which seems to help a little, but she just said to see a dentist about my TMJ, and that there really wasn't much anyone can do for it. I'd like to get rid of her cause she seems generally uninterested in helping me with anything. but i really have no idea who else to go to.
I've also been seeing a chiropractor for neck/low back pain (which i think is TMJ related) and he also adjusts and massages my jaw, but it only lasts a few days and I only go about every 3 weeks.
Since my doc told me to go to a dentist, i thought i might be able to get my health ins. to cover it since it says it does cover TMJ treatments. So I found one close that supposedly specializes in TMJ and went to her. She forced my to have a regualar checkup with her before anything else, and found two cavities which she said had to be taken care of before she would make me a splint of some sort. she said something about making a cast mold of my mouth, and that sounds expensive. That visit cost me about $150, so I told her I would come back when I got my cavities filled at the dental school (to save $$). But, I still haven't done that (i'm poor

) I was discouraged with her too, she seemed to be just out to charge me for everything she could. (like everyone else) Where are the doctors that have this problem or have family with this that will understand!!??
Does anyone happen to know of any good specialists in my area, or know of any searches I could do to find one? I am even willing to travel if I could get the right doctor who would be understanding and not rip me off! I would appreciate any help.
By the way, I am also a clencher, and a nightime tooth-grinder, if that helps.

honeybee81 · 09-12-2002, 04:34 PM

i'm bumping this cause I would love some advice! thanks!

GenDen · 09-12-2002, 08:19 PM

If you clench and grind and are concerned about money, you might try a NTI splint which suppresses clenching. Depending on the dentist, the NTI should cost around $200.00. Stopping the clenching and grinding may be all you need. You should know in a couple of months. Then again, there may be a more serious problem that will become apparent if the NTI doesn't work.

crystalll · 09-12-2002, 08:29 PM

Hi Honeybee,

I'm sorry to hear what you've been going through. If you go to the website for the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain they have a referral section that lists specialists by location.

When calling doctors offices, here are some questions you may want to ask:

1. Does he or she treat many TMJ patients?
2. From where do the patients come? (good doctors generally have patients travel vast distances to see them)
3. What kind of training has the doctor had? (avoid anyone who doesn't keep up to date in any area of medicine, especially TMJ)
4. Does the doctor often recommend surgery? (avoid any doctor who recommends more surgery than 1-3% of his or her TMJ patients)
5. Does the doctor recommend the use of splints? (this is generally the first step in conservative, reversible treatment of TMJD)
6. Does the doctor work with other practitioners, i.e. chiropractors etc.? (no doctor can do everything)
7. Ask if the doctor belongs to any TMJ academies or professional groups.

Finding a doctor who understands TMJD can be a difficult process. I hope this helps a little bit.

Crystal

sppamantha · 11-15-2002, 12:10 AM

I also live in Saint Louis. I have really severe tmj according to the multiple doctors I have seen. I go to Kenneth Rotskoff at Missouri Baptist. (314) 567- 5522. He is supposed to be one of the best in the country. There are also quite a few good ones in chicago. who were you seeing?