I went to the dentist because of jaw pain and headaches, thinking they might be connected. He said they were and it was a good thing I came in, because it is TMJ and I need a full mouth reconstruction. Really? That is thousands of dollars. Should I get a second opinion or is this the standard treatment?
Melissa A. – Utah
Melissa,
This is not the standard TMJ treatment. In fact, it is only used in extreme cases. It certainly wouldn’t be the first treatment jumped to without their being extenuating circumstances. Take a look at Dr. Hadgis’ TMJ Treatment page to get an idea of what you should expect. In your case, I would definitely get a second opinion.
Make sure whomever you go to for the second opinion has a lot of training in neuromuscular dentistry. For instance, Dr. Hadgis has done extensive studies with the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, including courses on full-mouth reconstruction.
It is an extremely advanced procedure and if not done well, then you’ll end up in a much worse situation than you’re currently in.
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