Dentist or oral surgeon for TMJ issues?

[thapsychlone.livejournal.com]

Does anyone here suffer from, or have a loved one, who suffers from TMJ?

Dental insurance won't cover a mouth guard (most common treatment) and medical insurance will cover consultation, x-rays, MRIs with a medical doctor...but also will not cover cost of a mouth guard. It's so frustrating, because mouth guards designed for TMJ range from $500-1,000, typically.

Does anyone recommend anyone in the area that is competent, friendly, and semi-affordable? Even if your person does not meet all criteria, I'd love to know!

Comments

[audioboy.livejournal.com]

You should talk to Rosie of Smiles By Rosie (though she will probably see this). She may well have affordable options.

[elusiveat.livejournal.com]

I don't have any recommendations about TMJ doctors or dentists, but I recently tried to get insurance for a bite plate to deal with my night-time grinding, and when I phoned my *medical* insurance people, the woman I spoke to said that they absolutely do not cover bite plates, but that *if* I could get a physician (oral surgeon is okay, but a dentist is not) to diagnose me with TMJ, then I could get medical insurance for a MORA device (Mandibular Orthodontic Repositioning Appliance), which I think is sort of the same idea but specifically to deal with TMJ.

You might want to see if your medical insurance provides a similar deal. Evidently "MORA device" is some sort of magical incantation as far as my insurance company is concerned.

[she-of-emeralds.livejournal.com]

I'm going through just this issue myself. The guy I see about it is at Mass. General. Dr. Jeffry Shaefer, 617-726-1076. He gave me some jaw exercises to do, to see if that would solve the problem, before going to the expense (and yes, quite expenseful) of making a mouth guard. Give him a try.

[othniel77.livejournal.com]

I go to Tufts Dental School for all the things that my insurance won't cover. It's on Kneeland Street in Boston. My regular dentist had quoted me $3k for a root canal but I got one from them for $697. Might be worth looking into.

[muffyjo]

I'm glad someone else mentioned Tufts. When I was unemployed I went there and they did a good job. And this sounds right up their alley. http://dental.tufts.edu/patient-care/

Also, I don't know if it's helpful but when stressed I grind my teeth. I spoke to my dentist and, like you, found out that mouth guards are expensive. She suggested the ones in CVS/RiteAid/Walgreens for $35. You boil them in water till they soften, they mould to your own teeth and they last about 3 months or so. Might be a stop-gap solution?

[othniel77.livejournal.com]

Tufts is amazing. The students work under the tutelage of a professor and they have been so kind and courteous to me. I'm glad we have such a great resource in our city.

[genevra-mcneil.livejournal.com]

A friend of mine just went through this and she got major relief from a massage with the lovely Sara Garvin at Somervile Therapeutic Massage (http://www.somervillemassage.com/)

[curiositykt.livejournal.com]

I changed my dental insurance to one that did cover bite guards (though it still cost me 275 dollars out of pocket), But really it didn't help all that much since I would just clench my jaw on the guard, which while saving my teeth, did little to help with the jaw/neck/shoulder/arm/headache pain.. So I get an upper body massage every 2 weeks from a chain that has a membership program (elements) and my primary care doctor prescribed muscle relaxants to take every night since I mostly clench at night... And now also anti-anxiety pills, which seem to be helping the most.

I've also found that chewing gun is good since it keeps me from clenching, though also avoiding tough to chew food like steak and stale bagels isn't a bad idea.

I've also found some relief from meditation and mindfullness techniques. Also stretching and light weight training has worked well to help with the pain. I find if you approach it with your primary care doctor as a systematic problem that is affecting multiple facets of your life, they tend to be a bit more useful at dealing with the holistic approach rather than just the specific joint in the jaw that isn't covered by medical insurance. (WHICH IS SO STUPID)

[nomacmac.livejournal.com]

I don't have any experience with mouth guards so this doesn't really answer your question, but I had great success with PT..(20 yrs ago, my TMJ got so severe my jaw 'locked' and I couldn't open my mouth) I learned several stretching and positioning exercises that I still do. Heat and massage help too, along with keeping crusty bread and gum to a minimum. I don't know if a dentist can make a PT referral, but it seems like something that should be covered by medical insurance. I wish I had a mouth guard solution for you. Good luck finding some relief.