Temporomandibular joint dysfunction, known informally as TMJ, can make chewing feel extremely uncomfortable. When dealing with this dysfunction, you want to choose a TMJ specialist Los Angeles that you know is highly knowledgeable. If you’re starting your journey of finding the right TMJ dentist Los Angeles for you, you need the tips below.
Table of Contents
Specialty Education
Any doctor can prescribe you pain medication to help manage your TMJ. However, they typically won’t do a lot to treat the condition. This is where finding a health provider specializing in TMJ comes into play. You want to find a specialist with board certification in oral medicine, orofacial pain, and/or maxillofacial. This designation verifies that they’ve undergone additional training and education to treat conditions like TMJ.
TMJ Treatment Experience
You probably wouldn’t hire a roofing company that just started a few weeks ago. The same holds true for hiring a healthcare provider. You don’t want to use a provider who doesn’t have a lot of experience in treating patients with TMJ. Rather, you want a specialist who has devoted years to treating TMJ patients. These professionals will have a wealth of knowledge and experience about effective treatments. They’ll be easily able to diagnose your condition. Also, they’ll be fully capable of creating a customized treatment plan for you. When a treatment plan is tailored to meet your needs, it will likely be more effective.
Holistic Approach
It’s become common in the medical world for physicians to look at a patient’s condition and treat it independently. However, this isn’t always the best approach. Holistic practice involves assessing a patient’s condition and treating the patient as a whole. This means taking their lifestyle into consideration when rendering appropriate treatments for their condition. This care provides a unique approach that can be more successful than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Professional Memberships
A TMJ specialist actively involved in professional organizations signals that they’re up-to-date on new industry practices and treatments. Some popular organizations include the American Academy of Orofacial Pain and the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain. When specialists join these professional organizations, they commit to ethical codes of conduct. They also provide quality patient care and successfully meet all the other standards each organization sets. You can typically find these standards on each organization’s website.
Online Reviews and Testimonials
The internet can provide a wealth of information about any specialist, giving you more insight into their practice. Websites like HealthGrades, Vital, and ZocDocs can all provide useful facts about a specialist. Be sure to read past the star rating to actually see what patients are saying. Are there patients discussing TMJ treatments? Does the specialist have good bedside care? Are there any complaints that regularly pop up in multiple reviews?
Offer Multiple Treatment Options
TMJ is a health disorder with several different treatments. The best treatment depends heavily on the unique patient and their symptoms. A good healthcare provider can explain the various treatment options available. Knowing you have options, from at-home solutions to custom oral applications and other treatments, is essential. You don’t want to settle for a provider who tries to treat every patient with one solution.
Use of Advanced Technology
With the help of digital technology, physicians are more capable of seeing the body and identifying problem areas. When you’re thinking about working with a potential TMJ specialist, you should see what type of technology they rely on. For example, diagnostic imaging equipment like CBCT can provide detailed imagery of the TMJ and surrounding areas. Digital impressions with intraoral scanners are perfect for creating custom oral treatment applications.
Ask For Personal Recommendations
Word of mouth is one of the best ways to hear about a great healthcare provider. Think if you know any family members, friends, neighbors, or even co-workers who have dealt with TMJ in the past. If so, it’s a good idea to speak with them. Ask about their treatment experience and see if they would recommend their healthcare provider. It’s much easier to get a feel for how a potential provider will be when someone you know has met them.
Insurance Coverage
It would be nice if you could choose any specialist for your insurance company to cover. However, that’s not always the case. Many insurance companies will require you to select a physician within their network. Otherwise, you may be paying out-of-pocket for medical expenses related to your TMJ. Checking your insurance company’s website or speaking with their customer support staff should reveal covered providers.
Patient Care
No matter how skilled a healthcare provider may be, it only matters if they have good patient care. Patients need to feel comfortable with any specialist they use to help treat their medical conditions. Your specialist should listen to your needs. They should talk about treatments that they’ve successfully used in the past. And they should never make you feel rushed or like just another number in line. Being able to talk with your healthcare provider all starts with feeling comfortable and secure in their presence.
Look For Published Works
A provider searching for the best treatment options for their patients typically has published works. These published works should be about TMJ disorder. It only takes a few seconds to search for any publications a potential healthcare provider may have online. Physicians in particular specialties, like TMJ disorder, are more likely to conduct group studies and publish works about their findings. Their ability to share their research shows a commitment to enhancing the treatment community for this condition.
Accessibility and Communication
It’s best to evaluate a potential provider’s communication and accessibility. You want a provider that you can call when you have issues. You should get a response from them in a reasonable amount of time. It’s never good to be stuck waiting months for a follow-up appointment. Additionally, you don’t want to constantly speak with the front office staff who don’t understand your condition. You want a specialist who will personally return your phone calls or has a medical assistant who will do so.