Started with TMJ treatment (Saysee at 59)

[Saysee]

I started with TMJ popping and locking (and headaches and neck pain). Chiro adjustments on my TMJ would just slip back. My chiropractor referred me to an oral surgeon. Animated MRIs showed both discs were out of place. Oral surgeon referred me to splint dentist. I wore a splint in my mouth 24/7 for a year, then had surgery to reposition my discs, and wore a splint 24/7 for another year during healing. I also had massage therapy to relax my face, neck, head and shoulders muscles.

Ortho, after conferring with splint dentist and oral surgeon, determined treatment to give me a bite. In prep for ortho, the splint dentist replaced my four back, bottom crowns and built them up 2mm so they touch my upper teeth. He also built up (with bonding) my four front bottom teeth so they would touch my upper teeth too.

I asked for the most effective and efficient braces not caring what they looked like. On Nov. 11, '09, I got self-ligating metal brackets, upper and lower. I guess I'm spending time acclimating to the braces. My next appointment is Jan. 11. How can anything with so many smoothed surfaces feel so sharp?

Am I happy? My right TMJ still pops, though reduced. The headaches and neck pain were gone the first year with the splint and massage therapies, and I think my hearing has improved. I'm very thankful that we were able to afford this because not much was (and is) covered under our health and dental insurance (because of job changes, we've been under four health/dental plans over the last two years). A quick estimate of the whole ordeal shows we've paid about $28,000 out of pocket.