i found a wonderful new dentist office really close to me. they do tmj, all their own restorative care, etc., whitening, surgeries, etc.
i was there from 1 to 3. initial exam was very good.
so far, the preliminary diagnosis is myofacial pain dysfunction or basically stress and inflamed muscles that won't relax.
they're going to probably do other tests but i'll have to wear splints again for the teeth grinding.
don't know how much it will cost.
one question tho. they said part of their treatment "may" include the use of a cream that has a steroid in it or a lidocaine cream. they assured me it will not affect me as much as taking it orally.
anybody know anything about a steroid cream or lidocaine?? i've never heard of this. apparently it's for the swelling in the muscles near my ears and neck.
Posted by CountryMouse (Member # 32073) on :
I was a dental assistant for 20 years and also a tmj pain sufferer, never heard of steroid cream for tmj or facial pain. Not that it isn't done, just never heard of it.
Has he checked your tooth occlusion (how they meet together)? My tmj was directly related to several high spots where my teeth didn't meet evenly on one side versus the other side. The occlusion was corrected and my pain went away eventually.
Can you opt for NSAIDS instead like aspirin? Unfortunately, everything is absorbed through the skin. Maybe not as strongly as oral pred, but steroids are steroids and it doesn't take much to mess with the system. That being said, sometimes they are a necessity but I think only after all other options are exhausted.
Do they have a tmj machine with electrodes for muscle spasm therapy? That is the BEST, at least it was for my tmj. Electrodes are attached to your skin at the jawline and a tiny electric pulse causes the muscles to twitch. This doesn't hurt one bit. Makes the muscles relax over time.
Posted by hadlyme (Member # 6364) on :
I've been in the dental field for over 24 yrs.. and currently a dental sales rep. I do not know of any dental cream of that type. Not sure what they are talking about. Lidocaine as we sell it, is for injection only.
Maybe ask them for a RX sheet on what they will want to use and read about it first.
Posted by karenl (Member # 17753) on :
If you are so sick you can only have a holistic dentist. He tests all materials if they are tolerable for you. Lidocain is a pain med. There is a list for holistic and biological dentists. The problem you have is not related to dental but to your overall disease. Steroid cream is a no.
Posted by Healing in Santa Cruz (Member # 7798) on :
Look for a lyme literate dentist. They understand Lyme and co related dental problems.