TMJ disorders cause jaw pain and difficulty chewing and are often accompanied by clicking or popping in the jaw and headaches.
What is the Best Doctor to see for TMJ Treatment?
For TMJ treatment, seek a professional with traditional university-based or postgraduate training, and who has pursued continuous learning through mini-residencies, study clubs, and continuing education courses.
Dr. David De Rosier, D.D.S. is that kind of professional, and he is the best doctor in the San Diego region to see for TMJ treatment. He has treated patients for TMJ disorders over the past 20 years.
When Dr. De Rosier sees new patients who are hurting physically, he often finds that they’re hurting emotionally as well. Dr. De Rosier takes the extra time to sit and listen and give that comforting pat on the shoulder — not something you find in every doctor.
Is TMJ Disorder ever Covered by Insurance?
Surprisingly, yes. TMJ disorders are increasingly recognized and covered by insurance providers due to growing awareness of airway impingement issues, such as sleep apnea, and their relationship to TMJ. As Dr. De Rosier humorously puts it, “It’s a little bit of no man’s land; however, we’ve had great luck billing medical insurance these days.”
Dr. De Rosier’s practice is “fee for service.” However, his office manager will check your insurance provider for what is covered under your plan and inform you of your benefits. The office also provides a medical super bill with the codes for reimbursement, as well as any necessary chart notes.
Dental transparent plastic mouthguard, splint for the treatment of dysfunction of the temporomandibular joints, bruxism, malocclusion, to relax the muscles of the jaw
Is TMJ Disorder Hard to Treat?
Treatment of TMJ disorder depends on the severity of the condition. If you are experiencing frequent pain, teeth wear, or grinding, seek evaluation. Common causes of TMJ disorder include bruxism and sleep apnea. Severe cases might require surgery, but it’s extremely rare.
Medications such as Botox don’t address the joint misalignment that is causing the pain. Only structural realignment, called bite therapy, can accomplish this. Bite therapy utilizes orthotics to override your bite and stabilize the jaw.
What Happens when TMJ Disorder goes Untreated?
Dr. De Rosier described a common occurrence: “A lot of what I see is somebody will break a tooth; they come in and they’ve got a lot of wear on their teeth and no dentist ever talked to them about it. And they actually have broken their teeth in their sleep by grinding them.”
If you break a tooth for what seems like no reason, it’s likely TMJ disorder. It’s important to seek treatment early. Untreated TMJ can cause chronic pain, jaw movement issues, permanent joint damage, and other health problems like headaches, earaches, and tinnitus.
A frequent symptom is a painful clicking jaw resulting from the disc between the jaw and skull being partially displaced. Full displacement, though rare, causes intense pain and requires different treatment because the patient can’t function. If a full displacement happens, the teeth on the affected side will touch and the teeth on the other side will not, and the patient will have significant pain on the affected side.
Can you Fix TMJ Disorder without Surgery?
Absolutely, yes. Most cases of TMJ can be treated without surgery.
Dental transparent plastic mouthguard, splint for the treatment of dysfunction of the temporomandibular joints, bruxism, malocclusion, to relax the muscles of the jaw
For the last 20 years that Dr. De Rosier has treated TMJ disorder patients, he has only referred one patient for surgery. He is a conservative doctor when it comes to treatment and uses limited medication. The majority of his patients receive a custom-fabricated orthotic appliance that changes their bite over a period of time, shutting down the powerful jaw muscles from subconscious grinding.
Asked what is important for a new patient to know, Dr. De Rosier said, “This didn’t happen overnight; it’s not going to get better overnight. But the other thing I want patients to have is hope.”
Contact us to schedule a consultation with Dr. De Rosier, where he will evaluate your unique situation and provide a custom TMJ treatment plan fit just for you. At Point Loma Comprehensive Dental, we practice “one size fits one” dentistry, TMJ treatment, and bite therapy.
