12 Questions To Ask Your TMJ Specialist About Splint Therapy

Who is a TMJ Specialist?

There is a whole list of professionals who perform various treatments for TMJ disorders based on their particular training and experience. The partial list of dentistry and medical practitioners who deal with TMJ issues includes:

General practice Physicians
Chiropractors
Physical therapists
Biofeedback therapists
Acupuncturists
Orthodontists
Dentists
Oral surgeons
Neurologists
and more

These specialists can have very different approaches to treating TMJ dysfunction which can cause patients to becomes confused about which recommended therapy is right for them. A great deal of the confusion comes from within dentistry where a number of approaches are vying to be recognised as the correct therapy.

The funny thing is that in Dentistry TMJ Therapy is not a recognized specialty area. A dentist requires additional training beyond basic dental school training to successfully perform TMJ therapy otherwise he cannot ethically claim to be a TMJ specialist. Also, there is little in the way of a standard of care when it comes to TMJ and dentistry. Generally accepted guidelines for management of TMJ and diagnosis are still not available in dentistry.

Anyone with minimal symptoms such as a slight clicking and popping of the joint should not have splint therapy.

A person with an obvious TMJ problem will require the teeth, muscles and joint to work together with the least amount of trauma. Any treatment needs to be based on sound orthopedic principles as well as sound dental principles. The chosen therapy should treat the cause of the TMJ not the symptoms.

12 Questions to Ask Your TMJ Specialist about Splint Therapy

1. What type of splint do you recommend for my particular condition and why?


2. Will this splint reduce my pain,reposition my bite or both?


3. What other options are there?


4. What happens if pain increases while wearing the splint?


5. What happens if over time my teeth no longer touch?


6. Is there any evidence you can provide as proof that this splint will help me?


7. When do I have to wear the splint, in the daytime or nighttime or both?


8. How long will I have to wear the splint before there is a significant improvement?


9. If this splint does not work what will be next?


10. If follow-up treatments are required, how many will there be and what will be the cost of those visits?


11. Is my insurance going to cover the cost of the splint and the follow-up treatments?


12. Will I be required to sign a contract with you to begin treatment?

Keep the list of question readily available so you can give them to your TMJ specialist. A good doctor will have no problem with being asked these or any other questions you may have. If he does then he is not the specialist for you.