TMJ and TMD Commonly Asked Questions

I’m hurting right now. Can he help my popping jaw?

When you see Dr. Jones for the initial exam, he will provide you with instructions on how to deal with your problem. In some cases he will prescribe medication and/or give you something to wear between your teeth to help relieve some of your current distress.

 

What is an initial TMD appointment?

There are many reasons for head and neck pain. Quite often, physicians and some dentists tell patients that their pain is due to problems in their TMJ’s. This may or may not be the case. Often it is more complex than just treating a popping jaw. The initial exam allows Dr. Jones to assess your present condition and evaluate if you have a problem that is treatable in our office. If he feels that he can help you, he will explain what is involved in doing a more comprehensive exam. He will also explain the related costs and prognosis of this additional TMD treatment. If he determines that another practitioner can best treat your problem, he will give you the appropriate referral.

Why doesn’t he take insurance?

Every insurance company has different levels of coverage for certain procedures. TMD treatment has to be covered under medical policies currently written in the state of Georgia. Unfortunately, the insurance carriers have decided that the maximum coverage they will provide to you is a total of $1,200 for any TMD related procedure (regardless of who you see and whether or not they take insurance payments). You can expect to receive about half of any claim amount filed by the time you settle with the insurance company. After each visit we will provide you with a medical insurance claim form you can file with your individual company. Because Dr. Jones only sees patients a few days a week, he feels his time is better spent treating patients than dealing with insurance companies.

Can’t he see me in Conyers (choose your location)?

Dr. Jones is not an oral surgeon. He is a specialist in treating patients that suffer from popping jaw and head and neck pain problems. He requires a laboratory and a different type of office than an oral surgeon in order to treat his patients with predictable success. We are unable to provide that type of treatment environment for the other offices at this time.