Thelma-Louise

Yes - its true that for some people it can cause a serious problem. You can search the web under tmj or orhtodontia, braces ,etc or check local book stores and the web - there are several books available that explain it better than I can, but sadly, left untreated it can become a horribly painful and life disrupting problem. Its hard to say how long one can have symptoms before a serious problem becomes evident - for some a simple dental appt for a cleaning can be like the straw on the camel's back - for others the symptoms will come and go with simple home self-care techniques. I would go to the orthodontist but make sure he is trained in FJO (Functional Jaw Orthotics) and treats tmj - if not primarily at least is trained in it - nt all orthos have the same training. Make sure a tomogram is done and have him explain what he feels is the problem and what would be required to fix it.