TMJ-Easy Relief First Before & Teens

Many of you probably know this already, but if a dentist told you that you have TMJ and needs to fit you with a mouth appliance which is so costly, hold off. Some years ago I took a kid to the dentist, about fourteen years old having problems with what the dentists described at TMJ. This boy had so much mouth pain near the back of his mouth, and yes it ended up to be his molars. We didn't know that then, and I agreed to the mouthpiece not knowing anything.
It came back ill-fitted and the price was over six hundred dollars, half covered by insurance. I told the dentist I didn't want it since it came back not fitting him. Of course he didn't care, as he wanted that bill paid.
I wasn't paying it. Instead we went to a local store and I bought him a football mouth guard.
That did it! He put it in warm water, shaped it to his mouth and wallah! All was fine for a few years, then it started again, and then we found out it was his molars.
Here is another issue. Yes, experience. I was told a fourteen year old boy needed braces because he had a space between his teeth and in order to have them come together and not widen, braces were needed and we shouldn't wait too long to decide. I was not the mom, but my opinion was asked. I suggested we ask another dentist as braces were not covered on our insurance as it was more about esthetics according to teh insurance comapny. The second dentist? He said, why hurry, he's still growing, not hurting, and has a very wide mouth, molars still needed space to come in, sooo....everthing happened as he said. Eventually within a year, his gap closed up, then his molars started to come in. It wasn't long before be had to have more back teeth removed because he didn't have enough space!

How many dentists wants to put braces on your kids because their teeth don't look so pretty. Okay sounds harsh yes, but all I'm really saying is when kids are pre-teen and in the lower teens years, don't be so quick to"FIX IT"unless it's a health issue. Ask the dentist if that situation will change in the next couple of years. SMILE:) Then get a second opinion if you don't like what he's telling you. After all it's your money, your insurance and most important, your child's health, not the dentist.