<p>My D has been complaining that her jaw is locked and she is having a hard time eating. She wants to get it taken care of.</p>
<p>Trying to find someone to look at her. Saw dentist, and they quickly diagnosed as TMJ. Said she should see oral surgeon, but referrals say they don’t see TMJ patients. And those that do see TMJ are not in insurance network.</p>
<p>Medical doctor says to see dentist; dentists say to see MD.</p>
<p>This is driving us crazy; I’m ready to start looking at treatment options on the Internet!</p>
<p>I had issues with my TMJ (popped very, very audibly everytime I opened my mouth), and I was actually referred to a TMJ ‘specialist,’ though my issues came from orthodontia. I saw one dentist/TMJ guy, one TMJ guy, and one orthodontist/TMJ guy. The first was through an orthodontist referral, but then my mother just called around to various offices and got second opinions (found the offices via Google). All of them had a TMJ section or TMJ mention on their websites.</p>
<p>Eventually, the disk/socket where my joint was slipping back into scarred over and solidified, and the popping stopped.</p>
<p>I asked my good friend who has TMJ and she said she goes to an orthodontic specialist, but couldn’t remember his exact title. She got a referral from the orthodontist who did her braces rather than her regular dentist.</p>
<p>I know there are dental specialists who work with TMJ. But…here is my experience.</p>
<p>I had so much pain that I was pretty much incapacitated when it occurred. Mostly brought on by stress. Even such minor stress as a phone ringing, my husband raising his voice, trivial things. My doctor prescribed a short course of prednisone. It really helped a lot, but you don’t want to stay on that stuff for long. Relieving stress, trying not to clench teeth (meaning even put teeth together), doing the exercise where you put two sideways fingers inbetween your teeth and breathe for 30 secs or so to relax your jaw. That all helps.</p>
<p>My dentist (and the specialist also recommended) this appliance to put in your mouth when you sleep so you don’t grind while sleeping. What crap. $500, kept me awake, and didn’t work. Funny, after the first time the dentist asked how I liked it, and I said I hated it…he never asked again, for years. I guess they get a nice premium for selling those. A friend got all of her teeth capped for TMJ, for about 40K. She said it kind of works.</p>
<p>My problem is mostly gone, I try not to get too stressed out, I don’t grind or clench my jaw, I use tylenol if it gets bad. But if I put my fingers on those pressure points, I can still feel the pain is there. Good luck!</p>
<p>Maybe try first with what the insurance will pay for? These people don’t seem to have it completely figured out. My neighbor actually had to go to the emergency room to get shots in his jaw to relieve the pain. Yikes.</p>
<p>I had some TMJ problems years ago. I went to a specialist who fitted me with an appliance like busdriver’s but mine worked. My pain went away gradually and I eventually quit using it.</p>
<p>The Dr. had a saying about TMJ- Sometimes getting worse feels better. Purpleacorn above probably benefitted from that.</p>
<p>DD suffers from tmj. Her dentist recommended her to see an oral surgeon. Got the same problem of insurance with both pointing at each other. I’m retired military so had to fight the Tricare fight. Finally got her approved- -after paying out of pocket.</p>
<p>Anyway, D has a daytime appliance she wore to help realign her jaw which cost approx $2K and also wears a night guard which cost $650 . Both work. She clinches her teeth, but doesn’t grind.</p>
<p>When it came time to wean her off the daytime retainer, it didn’t work. Doc’s advice:
Do nothing
Grind teeth down
Try braces</p>
<p>We’re trying braces. So far it has helped a little, but she has another year before we’re finished. What’s frustrating is that approx 10 days after she gets new bands I have to take her to the tmj doc to get her retainers adjusted. That’s another $100 for a 10 minute office visit and since we are seeing a non network doc, I get about $40 of that covered by insurance. Although, if I were to believe tricare, they say they normally don’t approve these type visits.</p>
<p>If you do find a doctor, one thing to beware of—dont let them grind your teeth down. I’ve heard that never works and creates more problems. Good luck!</p>
<p>When I had TMJ, I went to a dentist that specialized in that. They did not take insurance, but we could seek reimbursement (from medical). I don’t think this dentist ever did things like look at teeth. However, what actually helped my TMJ was seeing a chiropractor about an unrelated issue and having him work on my jaw. That was much more helpful than anything the dentist did (exercises and meds to relax my muscles).</p>
<p>I have TMJ and went to a “specialist” once. Did not accept insurance and when I inquired with my insurance found that they covered practically nothing. It was very discouraging. I remember it was around $5000 for what they wanted to do. I came home and cried.</p>
<p>Finally switched dentists, he made me a mouth guard (other denist wanted $2000 all out of pocket) for $50 and it works great. When my TMJ is bad I take Aleve and I have a mild muscle relaxer. Works great.</p>
<p>Oral surgeons want to immediately do jaw surgery. No way!</p>
<p>One suggestion that really helped me: I went to a physical therapist! Not that many PTs specialize in the jaw, but my guy was GREAT and it really helped. I’m not sure how you can find one - the oral surgeon who I thought was bogus did recommend this really good PT.</p>
<p>I also took a muscle relaxant. I’m not sure that helped at all. However, when you do a few things at the same time, it is hard to be sure what made the difference.</p>
<p>We went through our own TMJ related issues a little over a year ago. All of the advice you’re getting is probably accurate. Unfortunately for us it turned out what we really thought (and so did the dentists, pediatrician, and TMJ specialists) was TMJ turned out to be a rare malignant tumor. None of the professionals involved had ever treated one before. Bottom line was that pain continued to increase despite treatment which lead to the MRI and the correct diagnosis. The changes are slim that this is the cause of TMJ pain but unfortunately it can happen.</p>
<p>My daughter also has this condition, which started a few years ago. When it got to the point she wanted to seek treatment, we went to a dentist who advertised he specialized in TMJ. He did a lot of diagnostic testing and recommended an appliance, but she did not like him and thought some of his points weren’t credible, so she got a recommendation from her orthodontist, and went to an oral surgeon who treats the condition. That doctor told her there is a minor surgical procedure that might help, but it was entirely up to her. She was much more confident in his approach.</p>
<p>At the time…just before she went back to college…she first decided to have the procedure and then cancelled it because her jaw was better.</p>
<p>She’s in grad school now, and still gets freaked out when she thinks it’s starting to lock, but the problem comes and goes. Stress is definitely related.</p>
<p>btw, she is also convinced that it was caused by her orthodonture in middle school.</p>
<p>Also, our medical insurance (bc/bs at the time) paid for visits and diagnostics for both specialists.</p>
<p>I hope your daughter starts feeling better and good luck finding the right doctor.</p>
<p>There are dentists in our area that specialize in TMJ so look through your MEDICAL plan for referrals. Often TMJ treatment is covered under your medial plan with maybe some coverage under your dental.</p>
<p>My dentist also recommended the expensive mouth guard ($500). After a week or so of fitful sleep I adapted to it and it has been life altering. I am significantly better. It is a lot of money to spend on something that may not work but (for me) it was definitely worth it.</p>
<p>I may have TMJ but I haven’t decided if I want to go to the specialist because I’m not sure if medical or dental insurance would cover it. That’s besides the point though. I had braces and my ortho was the first to say I possibly have it. He thought with some correction in the bite, and with wearing my retainer every night it would get better. Well foolishly I haven’t been wearing the retainer because I have one on the back of my teeth for both top and bottom. So now I can feel the pain in my jaw. I have noticed that wearing the retainer will stop me from grinding my teeth.</p>
<p>The ortho also said it could also be the wisdom teeth causing all this pain because my bottom wisdom teeth are heading straight for my other teeth. The dentist didn’t agree but would double check when I have my x rays. Both agreed though that I need the bottom wisdom teeth out at least and my top haven’t moved very much so those may possibly be able to stay in. Most of the pain comes from the bottom.</p>
<p>There are things she can do to help herself, until she can get helped. Try to avoid stress (good luck with that one)! Take some advil or aspirin, if that helps her. Try to not grind or clench, and apparently clenching means just touching your teeth together. You can try not to do this. And the exercise where you stick two curled fingers in your mouth, and breathe through your mouth slowly, it relaxes your jaw.</p>
<p>Reading these posts, maybe I will try that awful night guard again. Sleep is so important, and it did absolutely nothing for me…plus, I don’t feel that I grind my teeth at all. But it has obviously helped many people, and even though I don’t have the dehabilitating pain anymore, I still feel an ache in the sides of my face. I am just used to it now.</p>
<p>If your night guard doesn’t work, ask the doc to adjust it. I had mine adjusted once when I picked it up and will have another adjustment now 2 weeks after I picked it up. It is hard and cost slightly under $400, including the dental visits. I grind but DON’T have TMJ. I think it’s working because no one has mentioned my grinding since I have gotten the mouthguard. She also showed me how the mouthguard realigns my jaws so that they relax. I have not had trouble sleeping with it but do feel it is a bit tight and will ask her to make it slightly looser so my teeth don’t ache when I wake & take it off.</p>
<p>I think it is a good and valuable tool. Both of my kids use their mouthguards as well and have not made complaints about them. I believe H will likely get a mouthguard from this dentist as well.</p>
<p>When I was working in group insurance, I noticed that TMJ was specifically excluded in the medical policies. I also noticed that my dentist has a flyer on her bulletin board discussing TMJ. That leads me to think it’s dental, not medical … but just my edumacated guess.</p>
<p>My H was diagnosed with TMJ many years ago. He was in agonizing pain. Fortunately, his dentist also recommended a consult with an oral surgeon. As a result, and a first step, he had his wisdom teeth extracted. He hasn’t had a problem with TMJ symptoms since. </p>
<p>I hope your D gets relief from her pain, soon!</p>
<p>Just went through all this with DD. She has complained of earaches for YEARS. Had every test and scan with no diagnosis. Finally went to THE ENT guy at local teaching hospital. He diagnosed atypical TMJ. She is now wearing an appliance which is giving some relief. D claimed she didn’t grind her teeth and a dental exam showed no evidence of grinding. However, the appliance does show evidence of grinding.</p>
<p>I went through the whole twilight zone of insurance coverage. We do not have dental insurance. Our medical insurance covers TMJ. And so the loop began…they won’t cover dental visit…but you need to start there before seeing a regular DR…and one it went. I finally found ‘the hidden person in the know’. She gave me the magical, mystical phrase one is to use when pursuing this through a medical plan. Call the insurance and demand ‘access to care’. This tells them you know you don’t have dental coverage, but you DO have medical coverage. Since their ‘in network’ dentists don’t show up on the non-dental plan, you are demanding access to a out of network specialist.</p>
<p>In our case the deductible is so high it didn’t make sense to complete that particular path. </p>