Need a doctor recommendation in Midwest

[Von915]

I am In Springfield MO. I am having TMJ symptoms. My dentist did a panoramic X-ray and discovered issues with my condyle (it is eroding).  She referred me to an orthodontist in St Louis that specializes in this. He informed me I have idiopathic condylar resorption and it will continue to deteriorate.   He recommends bilateral joint replacement along with upper and lower orthognathic and widening my upper palate. He referred me to Dr Movahed in St Louis and Dr Wolford in Dallas. Neither one are in my network so it is not feasible for me to use them. The orthodontist said I need to use who he recommends or he won't work with me because he had seen to many of these surgeries botched. So I am back to square one. I need recommendations for a surgeon. St Louis, Kansas City, etc. Thank you.

[CCW]

Unfortunately you'll probably have to travel for this because there aren't many surgeons who are experienced and skilled enough to pull this off. I'd see Dr. Gunson in Santa Barbara and wouldn't agree to TJR.

[Von915]

Why are you saying to not do TJR?

[CCW]

I think it's just unnecessary most of the time with a high risk of failure. A more conservative treatment with CCW-R + pharmaceuticals if needed seems to work better and is usually enough to stabilize the bite. Not many surgeons do TJR anyway.

[PloskoPlus]

I think it's just unnecessary most of the time with a high risk of failure. A more conservative treatment with CCW-R + pharmaceuticals if needed seems to work better and is usually enough to stabilize the bite. Not many surgeons do TJR anyway.

I've a hunch that Wolford's results are impressive as they are probably because many of them had TJR.

[CCW]

I've a hunch that Wolford's results are impressive as they are probably because many of them had TJR.

That may be one of the reasons, and he wouldn't be doing them if he didn't have good results with them. I just wouldn't want to be his guinea pig. Almost no other surgeons seem to do TJR and almost all of the ones who do have a Wolford connection. TJR seems to be very rare in Europe as well. A/G's condylar resorption cases are just as impressive as Wolford's.

[Von915]

I will have to research CCW-R.  I have no idea what that is.  Will it stop the resorption?  How will that fix the missing condylar on my right side?  I would love to not do this surgery that's been recommended.

[CCW]

I will have to research CCW-R.  I have no idea what that is.  Will it stop the resorption?  How will that fix the missing condylar on my right side?  I would love to not do this surgery that's been recommended.

It's counterclockwise rotation. Looking at a person's profile from the right side, the jaws are advanced and rotated counterclockwise, so it's kind of like tilting your head backwards.

A/G use meds in combination with jaw surgery to treat condylar resorption. This girl had severe ICR and was treated by them: http://melissassmile.yolasite.com/ .

[Von915]

Thank you so much for the clarification.  I will definitely look into it. 

[Joi Goodbread]

You won't find a better surgeon than Dr. Movahed.  Being from Springfield, Missouri you have an advantage.  The Missouri Insurance Board can help you get the surgery covered partially or in full.  Review your insurance policy as it probably has a statement in it regarding specialists and/or a doctor within XX number of miles from your home.  We currently are fighting our insurance and are slowly getting things covered.  Good luck and I hope you reconsider Dr. Movahed.  I got my life back because of him and the surgery.

[Von915]

Thank you so much.  I will look into it.  Dr. Movahed's office told me I would need to have him paid in full before surgery.  Of course, insurance will not pay anything until after the surgery.  I was also told that insurance typically reimburses about 5-10% of the doctor's fee.