Where to find an orthodontist who deals with TMJ & Braces?

[headpeon]

I'm in Bountiful, Utah. I had braces when I was 16, but the dog [really, truly] ate my retainer and I never got another. My teeth have migrated since then and my regular dentist is convinced I need braces again.

I also have TMJ. Locked jaw joint, jaw pain, grinding my teeth while I sleep, neck stress and sore muscles, headaches ... the whole bit.

There's a local dentist who specializes in TMJ, and he does deal with braces when the TMJ plan of attack calls for them. Sounds fairly perfect for my situation, right? Problem is, I don't have dental insurance, my medical insurance doesn't cover TMJ and the dentist in question wants $1200 just to deliver a TMJ diagnosis and create a treatment plan.

How much the treatment itself costs differs from case to case, but knowing that I need braces already, we're talking a minimum of $1200 + the cost of braces! That's a lot of money.

While I admire this dentist's professionalism in making sure that his patients have TMJ before he begins treatment, my wallet is pretty slim atm. I figure that with an orthodontist who has experience taking TMJ into account when adjusting his patient's bites, and a nightguard, I can probably do for myself what the TMJ dentist wants $1200 for. Problem is, I can't find an orthodontist with experience in treating TMJ patients. So, how/where/who do I turn to?

Help?!

[Julie]

I just went through this ordeal. Unfortunately, I found out I had TMJ only after it was activated by having my braces put on. So I spent the last 3 months in constant pain. Definately make sure you get a good knowledgable orthodontist that specializes in TMJ to handle your ortho work. The one I found is H Clifton Simmons III in Nashville TN, but I'm sure that's a bit far for you to go. I would look for one that is certified by the AACP (American Academy of Craniofacial Pain). They have a referral list on their website. Make sure to research the ones near you though, as I found that while some are members they may not deal with TMJ as much as others. The bio pages they have there show what percentage of their work is dealing with TMJ.