Terrence Spahl and Brendan Stack - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

grapes · 03-21-2005, 11:47 PM

I already know these are famous top-tier practitioners, who publish, give lectures, and have good reputations.

What I'd LIKE to know is how many of you have had personal experience of these two individuals? How many of you know somebody who's been treated by either of these dentists?

I'm having a very hard time deciding which one of the two to consult with. Both will entail airplane and motel.

I don't have a clear sense of how each of these dentists obtains the corrective occlusion and translates that to a splint. I don't have a clear sense of which types of splints they favor. I'd like to know more about their ability to listen and their chairside manner. I'd like to know more about their "Stage II". I'd especially like to know how their approaches DIFFER from each other.

Raindrop1 · 03-23-2005, 08:36 AM

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Hi I just read your post. I am actually going to become a patient of Dr. Stack I met with him yesterday and he really seemed to know alot about this condition. He did a 20 minute physcial exam on my head, neck and jw. I have to say I was impressed. He wants me to get a MRI first before he decides what plan he will put me on. I am very leary about surgery and he said he does not jump to surgery first he will exhaust all avernues first. I liked hearing that. I will probably have to wear a upper and lower splint, but they fit right behind the teeth. Well I know the upper one does he showed me one yesterday. My husband went with me and he really like his attitude alot. My last question to Dr. Stack was... is this fixable and he said yes, you just have to listen and do everything I tell you to do during your treatment. I hoping for the best.

grapes · 03-23-2005, 11:02 AM

Raindrops, did the entire appointment last 20 minutes, or just the exam part? Did you have time to ask your questions? Was he very clear about the financial end of things? Did you sign a contract?

Also, is bruxism a big issue for you? Do you have all your teeth? What's your main tmj issue? Have you seen many other dentists?

Sorry for all the questions. Answer any you feel comfortable answering. And, good luck, please keep me posted.

Raindrop1 · 03-23-2005, 01:11 PM

No the entire appointment took about 1 hour. He explained everything so well that I really only had a few questions. I am paying out of pocket becasue I have Kaiser and they really don't recongnize TMJ. So for the initial consult which was 1 hour I paid little over $150.00. We really didn't speak about the finance part yet. He wanted me to get a MRI first so he can see exactly what is going on first with the joint then we will go from there. I told him I am paying out of pocket and where I am going for my MRI gives a great discount for people who pay cash. So instead of paying 1600.00 for a MRI which is what they would charge an insurance company I am only paying 585.00

I had 4 teeth teeth pulled when I was in 8th grade to get ready for braces then I had 2 wisdom teeth pulled in my early twenties, they were my lower wisdom teeth. My husband tells me that he hears me at night grinding and he usually wakes me up to stop. I also tend to hold all my stress in my neck and jaws.

My main issues are tight facial and neck muscles and throat bothers me and my jawing popping and cracking everytime I open it.

I started with my dentist that I have been seeing for years and he did give me a splint the acrylic hard kind that goes on the bottom teeth, but it seemed after a while of wearing it that it was not working becasue he did not adjust it at all. So I got aggervated with him on the TMJ issue and that is when I found Dr. Stack.

Thanks and I will keep you posted!

Raindrop

grapes · 03-23-2005, 04:24 PM

Thanks Raindrop.

Are you going to the place that Stack uses for MRI"s, or are you going somewhere else? Stack told me that he really prefers the place he sends people for MRI's because the radiologists there are from NIH, and are really well-trained. He said some places don't take good pictures, or they don't give good interpretations. I think he told me that he relies somewhat on the picture reading report of the radiologist, but he looks at the MRI as well.

Also, are you local to Stack's office or do you travel long-distance? Just curious.