My jaw hurts all the time. Sometimes, I just sip soup because I don’t want to chew. Between that and my constant migraines, I do not feel I am a functioning adult. I spoke to my dentist about it and he said it sounds like I have TMJ Disorder. He’d like to do a full mouth reconstruction. My teeth are healthy, so I am a little hesitant to do this. He said it would mean putting a crown on each of my teeth. If that is the only way to get out of pain, I am willing. I just want to make sure.
Percy
Dear Percy,
TMJ Disorder can be quite painful and it does sound like you have quite a few of the symptoms. However, jumping straight to a full mouth reconstruction seems a bit over the top to me. There are less invasive procedures that I would recommend you try first. The exception would be if your case is quite severe and it is obvious that this is the treatment you need.
If that is the case or if you try the less invasive procedures do not work then you want to find the right dentist to do a full mouth reconstruction. This is a very advanced procedure. Very advanced. If it is not done correctly, then you can end up in even a worse situation you are in now. While there is not a TMJ specialty, you do want a TMJ Dentist. What I mean by that is someone with post-doctoral training in treating TMJ Disorder.
Who Is The Best Dentist for a Full-Mouth Reconstruction
This is not a procedure that is adequately taught in dental school. In order to have it done well, you need a dentist who has invested in post-doctoral training in these type of procedural skills.
Some schools to look for a dentist to have received his training in this area are:
- The Las Vegas Institute of Advanced Dental Studies
- The Pankey Institute
- Dawson Academy
The best dentists work hard on their skills. They do not rest on their degree and just go through the motions with what they’ve learned in dental school. You want someone who is consistently working on their skillset.
This blog is brought to you by Duluth, GA Dentist Dr. David Marion.
