TMJ specialist - need a recommendation

[Anonymous]

I've tried so many different things to solve my jaw pain. Worked with my dentist and got a mouth guard I wore at night. It worked at first, and then got chewed up by my dog. I had to go back in, and was required to do a new fitting, and things went really down hill from there. The new guard was apparently a bit different and ruined my bite. I developed clicking in the jaw and a lot of pain. The guard was slimmed down but still not great. I went to some sort of muscle specialist for tests; they offered no real resolution. My dentist wants me to get invisalign, but I can't ever tell if she's offering a real solution or just trying to sell stuff. I've asked about botox, and she's very happy to do it, but also suggests it's just palliative and not a real solution like invisalign would be.

I'd really love to go to a good specialist - otherwise, guess I just have to deal with a lifetime of this...I'm located in Vienna, but work in downtown DC. Anybody have someone they like??

[Anonymous]

I would never get one from my regular dentist.
I go to John Sherfferman in DC.
DH did too but last year Shefferman wanted him to see Dr. Kaplan. She seems good but they are to hell and gone up 270. I hope he will still do them for me. I worry he has gone all in my Invisalign straightening for the $$$.

[Anonymous]

Try dry needling to help the surrounding muscles relax. It can make a huge difference

[Anonymous]

Botox

[Anonymous]

Try Center for Facial Recovery in Rockville.

[Anonymous]

I got a new night-guard that's soft on the inside but hard on the outside. It has made a huge difference. I too have a dog and was told to always keep my guard in a case. Easier said than done. My little dog sleeps with me.

I have a gold crown on a way back molar that's better for grinding and a gold inlay. They have lasted a long time but only because I must wear a night-guard. I'm sorry for your troubles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try Center for Facial Recovery in Rockville.

+1 They do dry needling there too

[Anonymous]

Chris Loukaitis DDS - palisades area on MacArthur Blvd - very conservative, practical, kind approach. I love that guy. But… I’ve also been lucky with my tmj symptoms. I did dislocate my jaw once when I was younger (yawning - way before I met him). The clicking only happens intentionally - when my jaw feels tight. I do get some pretty bad headaches sometimes. I try to never rest my teeth together without a nightguard.

[Anonymous]

Stephanie Ashton https://ashtonhealthllc.com/ is amazing for TMJ. You likely need to work on your posture, but whatever she does in your mouth and to your neck/back works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try dry needling to help the surrounding muscles relax. It can make a huge difference

This.

I went here several years ago for PT after my jaw locked and I wasn’t able to open it more than one finger width. It was a combo of dry needling and PT. I still do the home exercises semi regularly. I haven’t had any problems with TMJ since - after more than 20 years of pain, clicking, and popping.

https://ptandhandtherapy.com/services/tmj-dysfunction/

[Anonymous]

I like the idea of dry needling/PT - any recs in northern virginia or DC? Rockville and College Park are pretty far from me!

[Anonymous]

Invisalign's will not work alone. You will need braces and jaw surgery, unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

Acupuncture + dental and tmj specialists of greater Washington (I see dr. Bolding). Botox is a waste and may make the problem worse in the long run. I say this as someone who had such severe TMJ I had limited mouth opening for a while and could barely eat. Center for facial recovery is also a good rec, though I don’t have personal experience there.

[Anonymous]

+1 for Dr. Bolding

[Anonymous]

I had this for years - broke teeth, pain is real.

I was successful with mind-body approach. Read up on Dr. John Sarno. Look up Curable pain app and the associated doctors.

Good luck.