Hi everyone- A previous dentist who did a 5,000. useless suregery just wanted to know how I was doing... I told him I actually TMJD... he said he could fix that..... right!Later
Diane!
[This message has been edited by DianeTMJ (edited 10-30-2003).]
That is absurd. If he could truly treat TMJD his wife would not need to take lots of Advil!! Apparently she didn't even have a very severe case and he STILL couldn't "fix" her. The nerve of this guy. Be glad you are far, far away from him now!! I am glad that you are doing better.
Hope you have a great day!
[This message has been edited by totallyconfused (edited 06-16-2003).]
Hi Genden-
I mean we felt like sitting ducks when they walked in. Say, maybe I should give his wife the name of my dentist that is truly helping me with my TMJ!
You know what is really sick about this, it turns out this dentist that dropped in, does not have an actual office. Have a good sunday
Diane
[This message has been edited by DianeTMJ (edited 10-30-2003).]
I can imagine how you felt. I'm surprised you managed to remain calm and not rip into the guy. He would have deserved it.
erhaps you'll feel better to know you're not alone. My most recent dentist, #13, seemed very nice when I first went to her. She told me not to worry, that we can fix this. I think initially she felt sorry for me, because she could see how down and upset I was. A couple of times, she didn't charge for the appointment. She made some adjustments to my teeth, which haven't fit together properly for a year and a half, since I had two fillings replaced (not by her). The adjustments didn't help much and the last adjustment seemed to make things worse. She also made me a new, softer nightguard, as the old one I was using was causing me pain. She made one adjustment to it, but it still wasn't right. I think she either knew she made some bad mistakes with my teeth, or didn't know what else to do with me, and instead of doing the decent thing, and telling me she couldn't help me, all of a sudden she could no longer fit me into her schedule. Unbelievable!
I've been off work for 4 months because of my problems, which she knows about. She also knows I need to get back to work asap. The last time I saw her was April 17. I called her office several times after that to say that my teeth and gums were killing me, and that the nightguard needed some adjustment. My next scheduled appointment is June 4, and I wouldn't be surprised if they cancel on me. I guess a number of them get by without having any conscience or integrity. It's appalling.
Anyway, I just wanted you to know you're in good company.
Hi Arleen-
Oh man, sounds like you have been through it too! That cold brush off, one dentist made me feel like I had cooties or something!
What kind of dentist are using right now? Does she specialize in TMJ? I am seeing a nueromusclar dentist and he is by saving grace at this point.
THank you so much for your words of encouragement, I just wish not one human being had to suffer with this TMJ.
Have a good night
Diane
I'm sorry, I missed this. Boy, if this guy's so good with tmj, he should've hit the nail on the head your first visit. When you get a complete handle on your tmj woes, refer his wife to your physicians. (it's not like they buy anything anyway) It's sad that if we were all dentists all we'd have to do would be to take a few courses and be 'tmj specialists'!!!! There are a lot of these
type of people out there, Diane!
Cheryl
[This message has been edited by CherylLynn24 (edited 10-31-2003).]
Diane, oh dear!!!
I would probably have lost it on them. My new specialist told me that taking any over the counter medicines won't really work on my problem. And for me they I already knew they didn't. That poor lady you know is never going to get better because she can't betray her husband that way. That guy sounds like a real winner there. How stupid- he first tells you something he thinks you need but then whne you tell him your problem he says "oh yeah, I can fix that, while his wife stands there in tons of pain" What a jerk he can't get off his high horse because he is a "so- called doctor" instead he is choosing to keep his wife the way that she is while loading her up with advil. that makes me MAD!!!! If he really knows how to treat tmj then why could he not put two and two together your symptoms and the symptoms of tmj?
How stupid do you have to be in order to be a doctor?
Heather
I don't have a dentist at the moment, not since dentist #13 stopped fitting me into her schedule.
I felt very down about that experience, and didn't know what to do next, when I stumbled across this board. Like you and others here, several dentists checked to see if I could open my mouth, and move from side to side, which I can. They then declared I don't have TMJD. I didn't know any better until I got to this board. It wasn't until I read about people having bite problems after having dental work that I knew I was on to something. Someone on this board mentioned a website that listed TMJD symptoms. I had 2 fillings down, freezing on 1 side, and when the freezing came out, my bite was completely off. After several nights, I started grinding my teeth. These 2 symptoms are listed here, and on other websites as TMJD symptoms. Yet, after 13 dentists, not one of them picked up on it.
I've got an appointment next week with Dr. Stewart Sigesmund in Toronto. He was mentioned on this board as having trained with Dr. Rondeau. Several board members have seen Dr. Rondeau, with good result, so I'm hoping for good luck with Dr. Sigesmund. He's the first TMJD dentist I've seen, and I'll post here after my appt.
Could you please clarify the difference between a TMJD dentist and a neuromuscular. Would it be that the neuromuscular is focusing on the muscles only, while the TMJD dentist also looks at the bones?
It sounds like you've got yourself a good TMJD dentist, who'll hopefully be able to help you a lot. I didn't realize everything was so computerized. It sounds encouraging that they can see your bite with such precision. I'm seeing Dr. Sigesmund next week. I don't know if he's a regular TMJD dentist or a neuromuscular. I think my problems are with the muscles but I guess I'll find out soon enough.
You asked what freezing was - maybe you call it something different. When I had the two fillings done that started my problems, one of them was quite deep, so it would have been painful to have the filling done without the area being numbed (frozen). The dentist put a needle in my gum (filled with something like novacaine) so I wouldn't feel him working on the tooth. Usually when I have fillings done, I don't bother with freezing.
I had a good laugh at your comment about finding out if your gallery buyers are dentists and adding 40% to the bill. Sounds like a good plan to me.
You just hold your head high, no matter how many idiot dentists walk into your gallery. You've done nothing wrong. They are the ones without conscience or integrity (the same traits I've seen in pretty much all 13 dentists I've been to).
Best wishes,
Arleen
[This message has been edited by Arleen (edited 05-27-2003).]
Relax, you didn't do anything wrong. You're paying the man, it's his job to answer your questions and address your concerns. How long have you been seeing him? Has he helped at all? (sounds like he hasn't so far) I had a similar problem with his old TMJD doctor. Sometimes he'd talk down to me, (and I'd feel bad, and yeah, I'd cry too) and other times he was fine. I say, see how it goes for your next visit. If you feel that your jaw is forward, then that needs to be addressed by him. Who else would know better than you!!! I don't see why he couldn't tell you if the swelling in your neck were lymph nodes, that's fairly easy to tell.
As for him reading this board, maybe some doctors/dentists should, to see how 'we feel', and maybe their attitudes would change. (not)
Anyway, hang in there, you didn't do or say anything wrong, so don't get teary-eyed! And remember, you're the boss, you're paying him for a service, accept no less.
Cheryl
p.s. you should've started this off as a new topic!
[This message has been edited by CherylLynn24 (edited 10-31-2003).]
You asked how long I have been seeing him...about a month. I got my splint 3 weeks ago--and have paid for it. I know it's cynical, but I can't help but wonder if people attitudes toward you change after they have the majority of your $$. I shouldn't say that, I am just upset.
Thanks again!!
[This message has been edited by totallyconfused (edited 07-30-2003).]
Hey, it seems as though some of these splints do cause your jaw to be in an akward position. His 2nd splint seemed to cause a similar problem. His neck didn't hurt much prior to that splint. I mentioned that to his old doctor, and he made me feel like I were a nutbag! I told him not to wear that one, (recently) and his neck hasn't been hurting as bad.
Concerning your lymph nodes, I'd get them checked out to make sure that's what they are. With myself, when I get overly stressed and do some serious clenching, (like now) in addition to my muscles hurting, my lymph nodes along my jawline will swell. Feels like huge marbles in there.
I've aways been quite meek with rude/mean people, especially doctors. I guess that since they've always made me feel that I was beneath them, I was. A degree doesn't make them a better person. And when your doctor treats you that way, you get afraid, what if he no longer wants to treat you, etc...Don't let anyone 'walk' over you...I'm learning not to. Hang in there!
Cheryl
[This message has been edited by CherylLynn24 (edited 10-31-2003).]
Hey Diane I just thought of something!!!
Maybe you should have a sale for only dentist and hike up all the prices to equal the amount that you have given them, that way you will be even with them. then add tax so you will finally be getting something for your time and energy. You can call the sale "Getting what you deserve dentist sale".
Just a thought!
Heather
I already saw an ENT and mentioned to him about the "lump" under the ear/by the jawbone. He felt it and said he wanted to see me in 6 months to be sure it isn't anything else (tumor). If it gets bigger before then he wants to see me as well. I'm thinking if it WAS a tumor 6 months would be a long time to just let it grow.
Thanks again for caring. The neuromuscular dentist you will be seeing tomorrow will probably do the same thing (TENS) in order to make a splint should you choose him. If you go this route I would make sure (with an EMG, etc) that the muscles are COMPLETELY relaxed before I let them build the splint. I wanted to ask for this myself, but they assured me they knew what they were doing and that a certain amount of time on the TENS machine equaled relaxed muscles. Good luck!
Last edited by totallyconfused; 11-04-2003 at 02:58 PM.
Grrrrrrrr You won't believe! 
A previous dentist who did a 5,000. useless suregery just wanted to know how I was doing... I told him I actually TMJD... he said he could fix that..... right!Later
