Finding a practitioner who effectively treats TMJ pain can be very hard, as it’s a complicated condition. Dr. Wright has been very successfully treating TMJ/TMD for 20 years. With a good differential diagnosis, she can direct treatment to that diagnosis—which is key. Oftentimes, less experienced practitioners apply a standard treatment protocol to all diagnoses, but just like with any other disease, treating an incorrect diagnosis leads to limited or non-existent success.
TMJ problems can also contribute to many other conditions, such as headaches. Dr. Wright is a member of the American Academy of Oral Facial Pain and highly educated in distinguishing between headache-related and TMJ-related pain symptoms. Because many symptoms and problems are related to TMJ, you should allocate plenty of time for your first TMJ/TMD visit. We set aside 90 minutes to conduct your interview and examination before making a differential diagnosis. From there, we’ll determine the treatment options and plan of action you and Dr. Wright both feel comfortable with.
TMJ/TMD problems don’t usually occur overnight, typically building over many years. Therefore, we may need some time to determine a clear diagnosis and treatment. At that point, the treatment may take time to resolve the problem. Many treatment options exist, from no treatment or very little intervention such as stopping fingernail biting, to splint therapy, physical therapy or full-on TMJ surgery.
Medical insurance often covers TMJ problems but usually in a limited way—Dr. Wright bills medical insurance when possible. We aren’t in-network with most insurance companies, but can work with your out-of-network benefits. If you’re insured with Kaiser Medical, you must get a referral from your PCP to go to their TMJ clinic. Kaiser doesn’t offer out-of-network benefits for TMJ issues.
