up to Enterprise, AL. It took two and a half hours to get there. My Google directions were inaccurate, but I made it to my appointment only about two minutes late. It didn't matter since I ended up sitting in the waiting room for an hour.
I did like Dr. Chancey, though. He was honest and straight forward. He told me upfront that he is not an oral surgeon, despite what Tricare says. He is certified to treat problems with the TMJ, but he is a General Dentist. He has asked Tricare to stop listing him as an oral surgeon, but apparently they refuse. He doesn't like treating patients from Pensacola because the treatment often requires multiple visits per week to fit the bite plane and that tends to be a long ride (I agree!). I don't have to have a bite plane. He didn't think it would help.
After I told him what happened, and my theory on the haircut (which he agreed could be the cause), he believes I slipped the disc in my jaw (what caused the pain) but it has slid back in almost to position. I agree with the diagnosis, since I'm not in pain at the moment, but I can tell that my jaw is not in its usual alignment yet. When I chomp down, my teeth aren't fitting together like they used to. He said that in time it may go back. May. He did spend time explaining what had happened and about treatment options.
And that leads us to the solution. Braces. He says the alignment of my teeth is AFU and that I need to have them corrected or the TMJ problem will reoccur. He asked me to chomp down and move my lower jaw from side to side as far as I could. Well, I kept opening my mouth a little. When I didn't, the TMJ snapped. (Ouch!) So I know it isn't quite healed, but there is nothing he can do. He believes that once the teeth are perfectly aligned, the jaw will be fine and won't snap out of place.
He doesn't think this incident was caused by stress, nor does he think I clench my teeth or grind them at night. He was surprised to hear that I didn't have headaches with it. So the trip had good news and bad news. It is good to know that things are improving, but I really don't like his long-term solution. I suppose a consult with an Orthodontist would be a worthwhile visit. If I go to the one where my customer works (see a previous post), he apparently can treat TMJ problems, so his opinion on whether I need to do that would be worth more than one from an Orthodontist who doesn't treat TMJ issues.
Do I start the treatment knowing I may not even be here to finish it?
So I just checked with Tricare Dental and it really doesn't matter which Othodontist I go to because orthodontic benefits are only covered for those enrollees under the age of 23. Since I am ahem slightly beyond that age limit, all costs will be out of pocket. Great. This blows. What am I supposed to do? Why does this have to be so difficult?
I guess I should have known this would be a trying day. When I left the house at 6:30 the weather was gorgeous! It was 74 degrees (haven't seen that in months) and there was a little breeze. It would have been a great morning to run. Now the heat index is in the triple digits again and I'm seeking refuge in the a/c. Wonder if tomorrow morning's weather will be as nice as today's.
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