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Hi Sue,

I did see your DDS. He seems extremely knowledgeable and has a really interesting office (it's cool that you can lay down on the dentist chair and watch TV at the same time!).

Unfortunately, he didn't seem too optimistic in my situation. He said that your open bite was man-made (via splint therapy) and is less tricky to fix. My anterior open bite, however, was present before splint therapy (probably 1 mm at the time) but worsened after splint therapy (now about 3 mm). He wants me to try braces first and wear a soft night guard at night. Unlike you, he did mention the possibility of surgery if orthodontics can't fix my malocclusion.

As for the TMJ problem, he said my aches and pains are due to my mandible being too far back. However, because none of my problems are daily (I experience neck/jaw pain every other day), he doesn't think I'm a severe case who would need surgical intervention ASAP.

So my plan is to see another TMJ specialist from UCLA and then make an appointment with other functional orthos in the LA area (your DDS gave me a list to choose from). Hopefully I get into some sort of treatment soon because I have been awaiting an implant on #7 for the past 2 years and would like to get it done ASAP before my gum recedes even more (no one will touch me until my "TMJ gets resolved").

Sigh. The good part is that I'll probably help some of my fellow dental school upper-classmen graduate as they have specific clinical graduation requirements. The bad part is that I'll have to face some humiliation considering I have several complex problems.

In any case, thank you for referring me to your DDS. You're in great hands!