who were your TMJ dentists?

[thenumber12]

Would you recommend them?
This is targeted more towards the Los Angelinos (and neighboring counties) with TMJ since I'm looking for a real experienced complex TMJ specialist whose focus is primarily the jaws.

Also, does anyone know what kind of TMJ specialists are trained in reading MRI's as well?

[RMF7825]

May I ask what your concerns are?

[thenumber12]

May I ask what your concerns are?

Hi RMF7825,

I have intense stiffness and pain from the base of my skull to shoulder as well as bruxism which occurred spontaneously during orthodontia years ago when I felt something go out of kilter around my maxilla/throat/condyle area. I'm not sure what's going on whether it's a retrusive occlusion or maybe displaced condyles (or both) but that's just a guess. My gait, head/neck relationship, bite and jaws haven't felt comfortable, relaxed or looked the same ever since and my jaws have been turning more and more retrusive to the point now that my mandible feels to be constricting my throat. This interesting thing is that when I jut my mandible out into a big underbite, the constriction dissipates and the tension and pain lessens. No one seems to know why though and that's what I really need to know.

I've had consultations with several TMJ specialists sporadically over the years and have heard mixed opinions: "You don't have TMJ" and "You're TMJ is so severe if you don't fix it now, it'll only get worse!" Recently I went to an orthodontist/TMJ dentist and he wasn't sure if what I had could be classified as TMJ since my condyles seem to move semi-smoothly though they don't move in tandem. He referred to me a cosmetic dentist/orofacial pain specialist but I read his primary focus is cosmetic dentistry.

I feel like I need to speak with someone whose primary focus and expertise is the more cryptic and complex kind TMJ without other subspecialties.

[Marisama]

Go to Dr. Gunson in Santa Barbara, CA

[thenumber12]

Go to Dr. Gunson in Santa Barbara, CA

I would but I doubt Dr Gunson would be able to pinpoint what's wrong. I went to see Dr Schendel and that didn't go anywhere. I think they just fix what's blatantly wrong with the bone and teeth such as 5mm overbite or underbite. My ENT suspects it's the condyles and so do I since I get relief when I rearrange my bite.
The orthodontist I went to go see recommends splint therapy to "deprogram" and stabilize my bite and see if that controls the pain. If the pain is still there, he recommends surgery. I'd like to see if splint therapy gets rid of the pain and moves my condyles back to a healthy position. If I could get rid of the pain and get my old bite back without surgery, I'd rather take that route.