Tmj

[ricklev]

I've developed Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ) symptoms after some recent dental work which seems to have changed my bite.

Anybody have a Bangkok dentist they have worked with on TMJ issues.

I'm not looking for hospital or clinic recommendations, but am looking for a personal reference to a dentist competent in this area. (Unless there is a TMJ clinic in a hospital that somebody knows about, but that seems unlikely.)

I'm headed to St. Louis to try some acupuncture tomorrow and see if that helps.

Tbanks!

[Sheryl]

You have my full sympathy, the same exact thing happened to me some years back courtesy of a dentist at a major hospital (in the course of a root canal I'm not convinced was even necessary....)

Like you, I had no luck in terms of dentist understanding of the problem. the dentists who performed the procedure that set it off didn't even identify what the problem was.

You coukld try the Dentakl Hosopital on Sukhumbit Soi 49, they are IMO the best in the business here in LOS and have a wide range of specialists. but quite frankly, most TMJ responds well to conservative measures which you can do on your own, and that is what I would do at least initially (and what I myself did).

This means:

• avoiding movements that aggravate it (no opening jaw too wide, chewing gum and the like)
• hot compresses along the jaw line and area of pain (cold applications initially if the trauma that caused it is fresh)
• anti-inflammatory drugs if not otherwise contraindicated*: NSAIDs, aspirin
• gentle exercises, see http://www.ehow.com/...-exercises.html or google for instructions. With exercises, let your body guide you, i.e. don't do anything that causes severe pain or that makes you feel worse afterwards.

The above plus time resolves the problem for the vast majority of people. No harm in trying acupuncture too and it may give some relief.

Another thing that is helpful if you don't have one already is a night guard to prevent jaw clenching/tooth grinding at night, any dental clinic can make one for you. In the West you can buy them in drugstores although of course the fit is not as good as custom made. I haven't seen these in Thailand, but you could look. The trays sold with home whitening kits will do the job too, idea is just something to keep your teeth from coming completely together.

If all that fails your best course would be to see a pain specialist, but usually these measures alone will suffice.

good luck

http://www.emedicine...me/page6_em.htm is a good overview of this problem andtreatment options

*contraindications = taking anticoagulant meds, history of bleeding disorder or ulcer. Always take with food to minimize gastric upset.

[ricklev]

Thanks for the good advice!

[mazd2]

You have my full sympathy, the same exact thing happened to me some years back courtesy of a dentist at a major hospital (in the course of a root canal I'm not convinced was even necessary....)

Like you, I had no luck in terms of dentist understanding of the problem. the dentists who performed the procedure that set it off didn't even identify what the problem was.

You coukld try the Dentakl Hosopital on Sukhumbit Soi 49, they are IMO the best in the business here in LOS and have a wide range of specialists. but quite frankly, most TMJ responds well to conservative measures which you can do on your own, and that is what I would do at least initially (and what I myself did).

This means:

• avoiding movements that aggravate it (no opening jaw too wide, chewing gum and the like)
  
• hot compresses along the jaw line and area of pain (cold applications initially if the trauma that caused it is fresh)
  
• anti-inflammatory drugs if not otherwise contraindicated*: NSAIDs, aspirin
  
• gentle exercises, see http://www.ehow.com/...-exercises.html or google for instructions. With exercises, let your body guide you, i.e. don't do anything that causes severe pain or that makes you feel worse afterwards.
  

The above plus time resolves the problem for the vast majority of people. No harm in trying acupuncture too and it may give some relief.

Another thing that is helpful if you don't have one already is a night guard to prevent jaw clenching/tooth grinding at night, any dental clinic can make one for you. In the West you can buy them in drugstores although of course the fit is not as good as custom made. I haven't seen these in Thailand, but you could look. The trays sold with home whitening kits will do the job too, idea is just something to keep your teeth from coming completely together.

If all that fails your best course would be to see a pain specialist, but usually these measures alone will suffice.

good luck

http://www.emedicine...me/page6_em.htm is a good overview of this problem andtreatment options

*contraindications = taking anticoagulant meds, history of bleeding disorder or ulcer. Always take with food to minimize gastric upset.

That seems like good advice.

My dentist told me I was 'in the late stages' of TMD and that I need to get it treated urgently. According to her, TMD leads to a host of other problems, including pains. However I don't seem to be exhibiting any of the symptoms as outlined on the various websites addressing the issue, although she insisted that I am in the late stages, on two separate visits.

There is considerable pain when a finger is placed hard on the inside up against the jawbone, and I've had brief pain in the past, although nothing that stopped me from eating or doing something about it.

What is it likely to cost to have in treated in bangkok? She said that some kind of a metal insert is placed inside my mouth on both upper sides for 2 months. She also said that most people feel amazing after they've had the treatment, because of the effect it has on people's health. Don't know how true it all was, just wondering what others may have heard from their dentists.

[maxme]

Im sorry to hear that. What did the doctor who gave you that work say about it? There is a great TMJ specialist in BNH hospital,dam_n i dont remember her name. She is one of the best hand who can handle problems regarding occlusion in Thailand. Check those doctors photo in front of the BNH dental clinic. She is the one with American Board in TMJ.

[mazd2]

Im sorry to hear that. What did the doctor who gave you that work say about it? There is a great TMJ specialist in BNH hospital,dam_n i dont remember her name. She is one of the best hand who can handle problems regarding occlusion in Thailand. Check those doctors photo in front of the BNH dental clinic. She is the one with American Board in TMJ.

If I don't have any pain in my jaw, I'm just wondering if there's anything to worry about...what does BNH stand for? How do you know she's so good??

[kyb789]

If you don't have pain in your jaw, don't do anything! I have had TMJ most my life as long as I can remember (40+ years). I have spoke to numerous doctors, dentists, etc. and I can tell you that TMJ has no cure. Don't ever have an operation unless it is the absolute last resort. Most operations are not successful and the patient eventually can experience more pain the rest of their life. Dentists are your best hope. People have had greater success by changing their bite (a.k.a, braces). I have good days and bad days. I just watch how I chew my food, be careful how I sleep at night, and try not to play with my jaw and teeth. Good luck to you and please avoid any operations as long as possible.

[mazd2]

If you don't have pain in your jaw, don't do anything! I have had TMJ most my life as long as I can remember (40+ years). I have spoke to numerous doctors, dentists, etc. and I can tell you that TMJ has no cure. Don't ever have an operation unless it is the absolute last resort. Most operations are not successful and the patient eventually can experience more pain the rest of their life. Dentists are your best hope. People have had greater success by changing their bite (a.k.a, braces). I have good days and bad days. I just watch how I chew my food, be careful how I sleep at night, and try not to play with my jaw and teeth. Good luck to you and please avoid any operations as long as possible.

Hey kyb, thanks for the info. However, I haven't been recommended surgery by my dentist, just to have 2 metal (i think steel) inserts placed inside my mouth for 2 months or so, followed by insertion of 5 crowns and three bridges(over teeth that have been removed). But she is saying that I need to get the TMD treated right away, and before the crowns/bridges are done. She says it leads to a host of other physical and psychological conditions, including depression, etc.

And in fact there IS pain as I mentioned above, when the inside of my jaw where the skull(temperal) meets the jawbone(mandible) is pressed solidly, there is quite considerable pain indeed! Although I don't feel it in my day-to-day life, it was only when she put here finger inside that I felt it, (so to speak).

[Sheryl]

DR. PANUPEN SITTHISOMWONG Specialty : Orofacial pain & TMJ Language : English,Thai, Education Medical school :

DDS - Mahidol University Certification :

- Certificate in TMD & Orafacial Pain,

University of Medicine and Dentistry of new Jersey, USA

- Master of Science in Oral Biology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, USA

- Diplomate American Board of Orofacial Pain

Office Hour : Special clinical interest : Office Telephone : Schedule Work time :

Day Time Monday* 17:00 - 20:00

at BNH Hospital. On Convent between Silom and Sathorn. website www.bnhhospital DOT com

[maxme]

One of my friends goes to her, he has a serious condition grinding his teeth at night and had been to some doctors before he finally found this one. He said she is one of the best. BNH is Bangkok Nursing Home. Its on Convent Road. Take BTS and get off the Saladeang Station.