TMJ Treatments
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Dec 2007
I have long had a TMJ disorder, and I really need to see someone about it. A decade
ago I saw an oral and maxillofacial surgeon who made a great retainer/spacer/splint
that realigned it perfectly. Unfortunately, it no longer fits. I understand there are
several types of physicians one can see for this. I don't have dental coverage, so
I'm trying to avoid seeing a dentist, and as far as I can tell, there are no oral and
maxillofacial surgeons on my insurance plan (Blue Shield). If anyone out there with
experience with this can give me some guidance, I'd appreciate it. Thanks in advance.
jaw clicker
My TMJ/TMD problems are all but history since I worked with Dr Preet
Sahoti in Fremont. I strongly recommend that you give her a call. She
cured my tension headaches, neckaches and eye strain! 510-744-1414
*Suite 131* 39572 Stevenson Place, Fremont, CA 94539.
Alison
I recommend my chiropractors - Dr. Eileen Karpfinger & Dr. Aaron
Rosselle. They practice a number of techniques that would help you -
including Tempo Mandibular Technique, which is specifically for TMJ/Jaw
issues. They are at Upaya Center for Wellbeing at (510) 444-4443.
anon
June 2007
Does anyone have a recent recommendation for a dentist or M.D. who knows what to do
about TMJ? After some bad dental work in San Francisco, my friend and I now both have a
problem with our bite not occluding correctly, and in my case it has actually caused
problems in my jaw joints. Did your treatment involve orthodontics, replacing dental
work, etc? Thanks.
Dental Despair
My daughter has TMJ and is going to see an orthdontist in North Berkeley who is
super-conscious of TMJ and is taking her jaw health and placement into consideration, not
just the straightness of her teeth. The type of practice is called ''functional
orthodontics''. His name is Dr. Gary Fredrickson. and his partner is Dr. Marjan Rusta. the
number is 526-7546. The office staff are really nice and helpful too. She hasn't started
crozats/braces yet, but the whole initial consultation has been great.
Nadja
I have a wonderful doctor to recommend for TMJ. I actually know what TMJ stands for
because I used to work for him a long time ago. His name is Dr. Craig McDow and he's in
San Francisco on Sutter St. In the medical building. He has been in practice at 450 Sutter
since 1990. Dr. McDow has been performing reconstruction, implants and oral surgery since
1985. He placed an implant for me last year and did a fantastic job! I have see him help
lots of TMJ patients. 415-989-1050
Bonnie
Jan 2006
I'd like some updated information on Dr. Dwight Jennings at the
Northern Califiornia Cranio-Facial Diagnostic Center. I've had
daily headaches for 2 years that haven't responded to any of the
numerous treatments I've tried. I have TMJ (my jaw pops on one
side when I open it and I clench and grind my teeth at night),
which I assume must be related. I was seen a year ago at the
UCSF TMJ clinic and was told it was unrelated to my headaches.
However, other postings have complained about UCSF so I want
another opinion. Has anyone been seen at the Northern
Califiornia Cranio-Facial Diagnostic Center? Was it worth the
expense?
Monique
I had jaw issues starting in 1998. I was a student at UCB and
they sent me to UCSF. I hated my treatment - muscle relaxers and
PT. The PT was painful and the muscle relaxers knocked me out
for most of the day. The therapist said the PT should not be
painful and recommended to visit the dr again. The dr said just
to keep on treatment as is. Needless to say, I went my own way.
I ate softer foods for awhile and eventually got a night mouth
guard. I am generally all better with episodes every once in
awhile. The mouth guard came from my dentist (and insurance paid
for it, ~$200. This was my saviour.
I hope this info is helpful.
Karen
I'm afraid that I don't know the center of which you are
speaking, but I have had severe migraines for 7 years (2-3 times
a week) and TMJ for 15 years. My TMJ is almost gone now, thanks
to a magnificent practioner: Jennifer Buchannan DDS. X-rays
revealed that I had torn a ligament and severely sprained my jaw
and the outlook was grim. Thanks to her treatment (and the
physical therapist she recommended), I have regained full,
normal range of motion in my jaw and am virtually pain-free.
She trained at UCSF and only practices on TMD and orofacial
pain. Her office is in San Rafael, which is a bit of a drive,
but I would fly cross country to get the kind of expertise she
provides. Her number is 415 460 1601. Good luck!
Laura
Hi,
I haven't had experience with the practice you mentioned, but I
did have excellent results with Dr. Harry Hatasaka of Palo Alto
some years back. I was like you: daily headaches, extreme jaw
pain, etc... mine was so bad I'd wake up with my jaw locked for
about 15 minutes each morning. After trying the night guards and
muscle relaxers, I finally relented and went to see him. It was
fabulous! It took about a month or so of good treatment:
therapeutic ultrasound on my jaw, neck and shoulders to heal the
joint and surrounding tissues, as well as daily self care:
alternating hot and cold packs 4x each 2-3 times a day and Advil.
Dr. Hatasaka also did this very serious massage of my neck and
shoulders. It was very expensive, but I only had to do one course
of therapy. I now just use a night guard with terrific results.
If things get tense in my life and I start clenching my teeth at
night too much, I continue on with the self care I mentioned
above. My jaw does still click (not sure if that will ever go
away) but it doesn't hurt nearly as bad and I only get occasional
headaches.
Mary
I'm sorry for what you're going through. I was a patient of Dr. Jennings, and would
be happy to share my experience with you. You're welcome to email me.
Please look at Dr. Jennings' website, www.dentalphysician.com, very carefully. He
has a self-published article on his website, which isn't easy to read--it's almost
entirely one paragraph--but it's very revealing. In the article, he states openly that
his aim is to give his patients an open bite. Having an open bite means that your top
and bottom back teeth don't meet--which means that you can no longer chew food.
He also claims on his website that his treatment is appropriate for illnesses ranging
from asthma to vaginal infections.
For information on TMJ issues and treatment options, see www.tmj.org. This site
contains a link to a National Institute of Health conference report on TMJ treatment
options, which I found extraordinarily helpful.
For your headaches, I'd encourage you to talk with a primary care physician about
Imitrex (I hope I've spelled that right), if you haven't already. To relieve muscle
tension at night, you might want to also discuss Flexerill with your doctor; it's a very
inexpensive muscle relaxant, available as a generic, whose only side effect is
drowsiness. Other options to consider might be antidepressants, such as Wellbutrin
and Cymbalta. Cymbalta in particular is supposed to be helpful with stress-related
pain; I haven't tried it, so I can't give a recommendation for it. Perhaps someone else
on this list can?.
Alternatively, or in addition, you might want to get a stabilization splint for night-
time use (stabilization splints don't change your bite). I had one made by a
prosthodontist where I now live, Dr. Larry Over in Eugene, Oregon. You could call
him (541-687-1499) and ask him for a referral to someone in your area. I found
that a well-made stabilization splint, with adjustments as needed, was very useful. It
prevents night-time clenching.
I hope this is helpful. You're welcome to contact me for more info.
briank
Oct 2005
I'm looking for an MD to treat chronic TMJ. Recommendations greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Christine
Unfortunately, medical doctors don't tend to treat TMJ disorders; they'll probably
refer you to a dentist, and what happens to you will just depend on which dentist
you go to. Be very careful, because there's a lot of quackery out there. Before you do
anything, go to www.tmj.org. This web site offers an overview of available
treatments, and covers which treatments are both controversial and harmful. The
site also links to a 1996 report from the National Institute of Health regarding TMJ
treatment that is essential reading.
Here is what I found helpful: three weeks of Valium, and wearing a well-made (i.e.
was comfortable and didn't change my bite) stabilization splint (in my case, made by
a prosthodontist) for several months. The splint caused $1,500, wasn't covered by
insurance, and was worth every penny. I'd refer you to my prosthodontist but he's in
Eugene, Oregon. I would specifically caution against proceeding with treatment with
any medical or dental professional who says that your problem is the result of a
misaligned jaw or a ''bad bite.'' This approach is, in a word, fraud, but it's
unfortunately very common. You'll be encouraged to spend huge bucks ($8,000 to
$20,000) to buy a repositioning splint to realign your jaw and''fix'' your bite,
followed by years of braces: the end result is you'll need expensive crowns to repair
the damage. I'd also caution against going to a physical therapist; both because it's
very expensive, it's ultimately not helpful, and, in my experience, it's dangerous: an
aggressive jaw manipulation displaced the cartilege disk in my jaw joint, causing
permanent damage. Best of luck to you (and by the way, there's always the option of
doing nothing; for many people, the problems self-resolve within a half year). Feel
free to contact me if you'd like more information.
briank
I can recommend Harry Friedman, Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) in Los
Gatos.
He ahs helped my 25 year old daughter immensely but we ahve not
solved the problem completely and need other adjunct services,
as yet to be identified...TMJ is very baffling. I sympathesize.
I am glad you posted this inquiry as I too will be interested in
the other responses. Dr. Friedman is tops, though. Worth the
drive there.
Mother searching for new options
Halt, in the name of glove! Before I let you turn yourself over
to an MD for your TMJ, I must tell you that I've KO'd mine by
working with a very skilled cranial practitioner (who is also a
licenced acupuncturist). I believe the method she uses is called
Biodynamic or something like that. Anyway, she often gloves up
and works on the roof of my mouth, and the change has been
amazing. I had no idea how much tension my head was holding until
it started releasing.
Her name is Lucia Castillo, and she's the most
gentle (and incredibly intuitive & nurturing) practitioner of any
kind I've ever had. Her office is near the Berkeley Whole Foods
and you can reach her at 510-204-9664. Good luck!
Susan
Feb 2003
I am looking for a dentist in the greater Berkeley area that is
good for patients with TMJ. I have avoided going to the dentist
for 2 years because of the pain I feel after having my teeth
cleaned or other dental work. I have been diagnosed and treated
for TMJ and remain pain free most of the time. A trip to the
dentist, however, can aggrevate my jaw and cause pain for weeks
after. Anyone out there know of a TMJ-sensitive dentist?
No more pain in the jaw
TMJ is pretty awful, especially when you are having dental work
done. Dr. Meeta Doshi, DDS, PDC, has always given my TMJ condition
careful consideration when she does any work on my teeth. She is
both professional and kind. Her office is across the street from
Alta Bates in Berkeley. The phone number is 510 843-9572.
Caroline
My dentist, Penelope Yip (2821 Telegraph), is great and did
additional training in TMJ. She is extremely thorough and is
the first denist I've had who has explained many things. Her
number is 841-7421.
Karen
Oct 2003
I need to find a dentist who understands TMJ (gives lots of jaw
rest breaks during procedures) and can manage very pain sensitive
patient (not anxiety). Berkeley/Albany etc. area, non-mercury
fillings and well-run office a must. I have checked all the
related archival posts.
anon
My dentist Dr. Fred Pockrass would be able to accomodate all of your requests. He has a totally mercury free office. He has a lot of ways to keep your mind off the pain or annoyance of your dental work - headphones with relaxing music, videos of waves crashing on the beach, and, best of all, a massage therapist who gives incredible foot rubs while your teeth are being worked on. He is on Ashby near the Claremont at (510) 841-3040.
looking forward to my next dentist appointment!
I recommend my dentist highly. She's not a TMJ specialist, but
I suffer from TMJ (I wear a guard nightly, my jaw used to lock
for hours/days) and they are very sensitive to my needs. They
were even able to remake my night guard when the need arose --
and it took a few tries to get it just right. They were
willing to do whatever was necessary -- even schedule a weekend
visit which is not regularly available, to get the job done.
They also manage patient pain well. I had two fillings done
yesterday and she applied a topical anesthetic before injecting
the local anesthetic, so that I never felt a thing. She told
me she's even had patients who've brought along acupuncturists
to manage pain.
Her name is Dr. Aviva Scherman. The drawback is that she's in
SF on Howard Street. But during non-rush hours it's a very
quick drive or BART ride. Their number is (415) 371-1300.
Good luck!
Stacey
I have THE BEST dentist who does EVERYTHING and then some, that
you are looking for. Her name is Meeta Doshi. She is in
Berkeley right across from Alta Bates. Her staff is wonderful,
she is wonderful, and her approach to dentistry is
exceptional. I have tried several dentists and not a single
one compares to this gentle, friendly, VERY GOOD dentist. I
can't locate her number right this minute because I am at work
and don't have it here, but I know she's listed.
Good Luck!
Jessica
I also have TMJ and my dentist is great. I have been going to
that office for the past 15 years or so and to her (she is one
of two dentists in the office) for about the past 10 years. She
has a couple of TMJ patients and, although she does not
specialize/treat TMJ per se, she is kind, patient and
understanding of TMJ pain. I would recommend her highly: Dr.
Veronica Chang, on Telegraph (near Ashby), 845-1931.
MK
July 2002
I am looking for an orthodontist who has experience with jaw
problems and jaw surgery. I live in Hercules, so someone north
of Berkely is preferred, but I am willing to drive as far as
Oakland, San Francisco, or Walnut Creek. I have read the
previous recommendations, but these are not specific to jaw
problems.
Here's the background:
As a young child I suffered an injury to my right jaw joint.
The injury didn't cause any problems until much later. I went
through 4 years of braces, headgear, retainer, etc without
regard to any jaw problems. Towards the last year of my
orthodonia treatment, I began having pain in my left jaw joint.
My orthodontist dismissed the pain. The pain continued to get
worse, and I continued to ask my orthodontist about it. It
wasnt' until my jaw started locking four years later that my
orthodontist took my pain seriously (I was young, so I didn't
realize that I should get a second opinion). He then sent me to
a specialist. It turned out that due to my earlier injury the
bone on the right side of my jaw had stunted growth where my
left side grew normally. My orthodonia work was forcing my bite
to stay centered, putting extreme pressure on the left jaw
joint. I was promptly given a mouth piece that allowed my jaw
to move freely to where it needed to be to and at the same time,
I lost my bite entirely (my top teeth and bottom teeth do not
connect, so I cannot eat without my mouth peice). The
specialist indicated that I would need to have jaw surgery to
cut out part of the left jaw bone, and go through several years
of braces, etc. again. He warned that it is extrememly
important that I get someone who knows what they are doing and
is familiar with jaw problems, jaw trauma, and jaw surgery,
since my jaw has been through serious stress. At the time, he
said that there was no hurry to move forward, so I put this off -
- being pain free has been my main concern. Now, 15 years
later, I know that I need to deal with this. All of my
treatment took place in Colorado, and both my orthodontist and
my specialist are now retired anyway. If my mouth piece breaks,
I will be in serious trouble, so I need to take action. I am
terrified of starting orthodontia again with someone who is not
an expert with this type of problem, and potentially ending up
with the pain that I previously was experiencing. So, any
recommendations for orthodontits that specialize in jaw
problems, and that are extremely thorough in their work, and
LISTEN to their patients would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Marie
I don't know an orthodontist but know of an excellent dentist --
Dr. Charles Mohn -- in San Francisco who specializes in jaw
problems. He was recommended to my husband by the myofacial
pain clinic at UCSF after he had gotten an infection in his
jaw. He is absolutely incredible and very intelligent. His
number is 415-781-2269
Ramsey
To the person seeking advise regarding Orthodontist -Jaw Problem
Experience - Dr. Dwight Jennings at Northern Califiornia Cranio-
Facial Diagnostic Center is amazing! I have somewhat of the
same problem and have been under his care for nearly 1 1/2
years. He is located in Alameda (Oakland border), but would be
well worth the 45 minute drive from your area. He is an
orthodontist/miracle worker that specializes in TMJ disorder.
His number is 510-522-6828 and his address is 875 B Island
Drive, Alameda. See the website at
http://www.dentalphysician.com/work.htm. Feel free to email me
directly if you would like more
information. Good Luck!
Anon
March 2002
I'm looking for an East Bay dentist specializing in TMJ.
My current dentist made an acryllic mouth guard for me
to wear at night, but the bite's not correct. I've
heard that a new development is to build up the canines
and use them as ''sliders''. Does anyone have experience
with this, or a great East Bay tmj dentist to recommend?
Thanks for any responses.
night grinder
I recommend going straight to specialists: your problems
might be beyond the scope of a regular dentist. UCSF has
a TMD clinic, as does the University of the Pacific. UCSF
just diagnosed my chronic jaw and neck pain as severe
oseoarthritis. (UOP missed it, but they are great for
simpler matters.) Anyway, for me, the lack of early
intervention means lots and lots of bone damage. May
your problems be easier and your diagnosis quicker!
http://dentistry.ucsf.edu/p_i.htm
Jenifer
I found having a few visits with Dr. Linda Centori, a
psychologist who specializes in chronic pain and TMJ
and is affiliated with the UCSF School of Dentistry,
very helpful. She knows all the TMJ specialists in the
Bay Area, and can match you up with someone appropriate.
Dr. Centori's phone number is (415) 502-6301. I'd also
recommend visiting www.tmj.org, the web site for the
TMJ Association. This site covers all the assorted
treatment options for TMJ.
Close to two years ago, I sent a posting to the
Recommendations Digest about TMJ specialists (now
archived.) At the time, I recommended University of the
Pacific, as well as a pain management specialist at the
Kentfield Rehabiliation Center, Dr. Marvin Zwerin. For
the record, UOP's TMJ treatment plan turned out to be
worthless: very expensive (close to $3,000.00), caused
permanent damage to my bite, and did nothing for my
pain. I no longer recommend them, needless to say, nor
do I recommend Zwerin, who referred me to UOP.
MarinaH
April 2000
I've been having some problems with my TMJ joint and have gotten a referral
to Dr. Brian Krey. Does anyone have any experience with him? Also, any
general advice about TMJ would be appreciated - what sorts of treatments are
out there for someone with relatively mild pain and soreness? Any ways to
prevent progression of joint damage?
Brian
I've never heard of this doctor, so I can't comment on him. However, I can
recommend
the University of the Pacific's Dental School; they have a TMJ Center and
they actually
seem to know what they're doing.
TMJ is kind of a blanket term; there isn't a one-size-fits-all treatment. I
felt U O P
was terrific at actually figuring out what was specifically wrong with me.
One other thing that I found helpful: The Kentfield Rehabilitation Hospital
Pain
Treatment Center, in (you guessed it) Kentfield. I saw Dr. Marvin Zwerin
(he's in a lot of medical plans), and he's really (really, really) good.
(He also has
TMJ problems himself occasionally and is very sympathetic.) Best of luck.
WHatever you do, don't go to a physical therapist or chiropractor...it's very
easy to get hurt...and definitely stay away from UCSF's Center for
Orofacial Pain.
I found them extremely cold. They failed to diagnose a jaw misalignment,
and instead
attributed the problem entirely to stress. They wasted a lot of my money
and time.
Stress is quite possibly a component of TMJ, but it's not necessarily the
whole story.
August 2000
My dentist has recommended sacrial-cranial (or is it cranial-sacrial?) therapy
for my TMJ pain. Has anyone done this? Is there a practitioner that they like?
Is it New Age voodoo or proven science? Can they hurt you? All I've been able
to find out on my own is that it's expensive.
Marina
My husband and I brought our newborn to a cranio-sacrial therapist to help
us with some breast feeding problems. Before we started treatment, I too
was a bit skeptical the therapy. However, after just one session I was a
very impressed with the results. Nursing went from a very painful
experience (bloody nipples from chomping) to a wonderful bonding time.
(This was our second child so it just wasn't a matter of inexperience on my
part). Gail
We went to Kathy Adachi who is located in Point Richmond. Her number is
510-237-7899. She works with adults as well as children, but is quite
popular, so you may have to wait a bit for an appointment. (By the way, the
lactation consultant who turned us on to cranio-sacrial therapy is Sylvia
Boyd. Her e-mail address is sylviaboyd at juno.com. I highly recommend her as
well.
My mother is a physical therapist ("retired" now) but she has done some
craniosacral therapy on me before, and in my case, it worked wonders.
It was for headaches while pregnant. It was very gentle and soothing.
Other than that, I don't know much about it. But I do know the name of a
woman who does craniosacral work (she is an occupational therapist too).
Her name is Nancy Sabin and her number is 528-9161 in Berkeley.
I honestly don't know if that is her home or work number (although she
does some work out of her home), and I'm pretty sure she still does the
craniosacral work. She did massage/body work on me while I was pregnant
which was fabulous, and she was just starting to get into birth trauma "stuff"
(can't think of the right term) last time I saw her. A very nice, nurturing person.
Hilary
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