Hi,

I have (think) TMJ. My right jaw joint clicks/pops every once in a while. Maybe 3x's a week. I don't feel any pain but have limited opening sometimes. Sometime to get my jaw to open completely, I need to wiggle my jaw side to side or push it foward. My crossbite is shifted approximately 1 tooth. No pain at night, periodic jaw clinching at night. I'm 35 now and noticed the crossbite developing and some popping around 15. None of this really bothers me because of no pain but my wife and dentist harassed me into going to an orthodontist. My big concern is not wanting this condition to wreck my joint so when I'm 65 it's developed into a big problem. I had braces from ages 12-14 and now have them again going on 2 years. The original plan with my current orthodontist was to have the braces, then have surgery to correct my crossbite. Voila, you're cured. Hmmm, but the more research I've been doing the less I feel like I'm going for surgery no matter what my orthodontist says.

My teeth are perfectly straight now, she expanded the top set of teeth. Doesn't seem to have affected my condition either way. I'm kind of in this holding pattern until I can figure out what to do b/c as I said before, I'm not going for the surgery and that is what my orthodontist is pushing for.

Does anyone have any recommendations on TMJ specialists in the Los Angeles area to help me figure out a new treatment?

I'm not sure if I need these braces anymore.

Thanks,
Don
Los Angeles