Need suggestions for a doctor

[Guest guest]

I just moved here from California and need to resume treatment. I've

had my splint for over a year and I know I need braces next. So I

need an orthodontist who is familiar with TMJ and the process, and

preferably one who will help me set up the surgery and all that in

about a year and help me with the insurance side for the surgery.

Anyone have any suggestions...warnings?

[Guest guest]

OK, so where is here??? :-) I wouldn't expect your OD to help too

much with the surgery insurance portion. Your Oral Surgeon will be

the one who helps you there. Many OS have a dedicated person on

staff to coordinate benefits with insurance companies.

Dammit

> I just moved here from California and need to resume treatment.

I've

> had my splint for over a year and I know I need braces next. So I

> need an orthodontist who is familiar with TMJ and the process, and

> preferably one who will help me set up the surgery and all that in

> about a year and help me with the insurance side for the surgery.

> Anyone have any suggestions...warnings?

[Guest guest]

Ask your friends for recommendations. I'd start with finding a

general dentist I trust, myself.

When you meet the ortho, ask about how much experience with these

specific problems that person brings to the task.

TMJ can be a tough thing to treat. Nobody ever promised me that the

surgery would help with it, and some have indeed had greater

problems. It gave me some good relief.

It would be a good plan, I think, to ask the surgeon, if you're

headed for surgery, about cost and coverage. I liked that my surgeon

told me directly, from his own mouth and did all my filings, rather

than shunting me off to his office staff. Although I'm sure that the

people who work in his office are both knowledgeable and esperienced.

If you wish to post the general area where you now live, you may get

some recommendations.

Cammie

> I just moved here from California and need to resume treatment.

I've

> had my splint for over a year and I know I need braces next. So I

> need an orthodontist who is familiar with TMJ and the process, and

> preferably one who will help me set up the surgery and all that in

> about a year and help me with the insurance side for the surgery.

> Anyone have any suggestions...warnings?

[Guest guest]

Here..oh yeah! LOL...here is Raleigh. I don't expect my OD to help

me with the surgery insurance portion...I'm more interested in

cohesiveness of treatment. I don't want to go to an OD who hasn't a

clue about TMJ and just moves my teeth to where he thinks they need

to be...which is one of the reasons I have TMJ to begin with. My

first OD back in HS just moved my teeth without regard to my jaw

position and my bite. Anyway, I just want to know that I'm going to

a knowledgeable OD who will refer me to a knowledgeable oral surgeon

who will be able to justify to the insurance company the medical

necessity of my surgery. I was told by my previous doctors in

California that such was the case but obviously they aren't in town

to describe the need to my current insurance carrier. I'm trying to

figure out what to do next so that I don't get 80% through the rest

of my treatment and find out I'm gonna have to pay for the surgery

after the fact.

> > I just moved here from California and need to resume treatment.

> I've

> > had my splint for over a year and I know I need braces next. So

I

> > need an orthodontist who is familiar with TMJ and the process,

and

> > preferably one who will help me set up the surgery and all that

in

> > about a year and help me with the insurance side for the

surgery.

> > Anyone have any suggestions...warnings?

[Guest guest]

How about trying the University of North Carolina Dental School? I

believe that's where the surgery shown in the Discovery video was

done. That way you could at least get advice from an ortho and

surgeon, all in one place....

Just a thought. Even if the dental school setting is not one that

suits you, at least you could ask for a consult.

Cammie

> Here..oh yeah! LOL...here is Raleigh. I don't expect my OD to

help

> me with the surgery insurance portion...I'm more interested in

> cohesiveness of treatment. I don't want to go to an OD who hasn't

a

> clue about TMJ and just moves my teeth to where he thinks they need

> to be...which is one of the reasons I have TMJ to begin with. My

> first OD back in HS just moved my teeth without regard to my jaw

> position and my bite. Anyway, I just want to know that I'm going

to

> a knowledgeable OD who will refer me to a knowledgeable oral

surgeon

> who will be able to justify to the insurance company the medical

> necessity of my surgery. I was told by my previous doctors in

> California that such was the case but obviously they aren't in town

> to describe the need to my current insurance carrier. I'm trying

to

> figure out what to do next so that I don't get 80% through the rest

> of my treatment and find out I'm gonna have to pay for the surgery

> after the fact.

>

>