Fixing adult TMJ with overbite (for tooth975)?

Jeff Smith Asked: Fixing adult TMJ with overbite (for tooth975)?

Doctor,

I hope you can help with this.About a year ago, I asked you for advice on here about TMJ treatment; I'm a 30 year old male who has had TMJ since my teens and has been using a splint made by my dentist since age 24 or so.Over the years, I've noticed that my chin has receded/is receding and (I think) my TMJ is worsening.I've recently moved to Chicago and have decided to bite the bullet (pardon the pun) and locate a TMJ specialist, but I'm having a lot of trouble finding one that I'm confident will work.I had a bad experience with a dentist when I was a kid, and that plus the financial cost of Phase I/Phase II treatment makes me want to find the right dentist with my first run.I found one dentist in Chicago that seems to specialize in this:it seems like he uses splint therapy the right one (24/7) and then proceeds to functional orthodontics.His treatment, however, is expensive, and from his website, it seems that he insists on combining splint therapy with some form of acupuncture.I don't have any problem with acupuncture as a treatment option—I know it helps many people—but I'm deathly afraid of needles, and would rather not engage in acupuncture if I can avoid it.

Anyway, I have two questions.First, should I reconsider my aversion to his acupuncture/splint combo treatment?Maybe if this will really help me, I could surmount the fear.Second, do you have any recommendations for finding the right TMJ specialist in Chicago?Your advice has been so spot on so far, and if you knew anyone in the Chicago area who does TMJ dentistry the right way, I'd love to hear it.If you aren't comfortable recommending a specific doctor, can you give me some thoughts or questions I should go to an appointment equipped with?I've looked at iaortho.org and the dentists listed there; sadly, most of them are not TMJ specialists in my area, and a few of the ones that are don't seem to align with the Phase I/Phase II treatment approach.

Thanks for your help.