How can I get treatment for TMJ if my insurance doesn't cover dental expenses?

& I'm on a fixed income? I'm gonna have to be miserable for a while. The Nurse Practitioner told me I DEFINITELY have TMJ. I'm in so much pain I can't even eat.

Yes, I have a headache now.

see your primary care doctor, and tell them they need to treat you, or refer you to a regular medical doctor that handles that. Call your insurance also, let them know you cannot eat, and this will cause you to become sick.

Do you get headaches because of it?

try going to a neighborhood clinic

see a regular md...they can usually prescribe something that may work---or at least help

u have to get a supplemental benefit package ....and then get a low income subsidy

Hi, I'm a dentist.

You're kind of out of luck. You are going to have to pay out of pocket for dental treatment that is not covered by your insurance.

Start saving now!

FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE

even with dental insurance its more than likely they wont cover it , its called an elective surgery and cosmetic surgery they feel its something you can do without. i just went through this in 05. i had both jaw joints done they said it looked like a moth had eaten through my joints and one was completely bunched up and almost gone it always clicked and stuck open when i ate. my parents passed away and i paid in cash it was between 20-30 grand out of pocket. i had to have that arthrogram where they stick the painful needled down in your joint to get an xray before the surgery
that is the most painful surgery i have ever had. my jaw and face was swelled up for a week. i vomited for 2 days afterwards
and years later dont think you wont feel pain. the weather affects where you had surgery like arthritis. for no reason i'll have pain in that area and feel like ive gotten up too fast it messes with your inner ear. it raises your blood pressure.. sure you are better than what you was before and even the next couple of years you'll feel pretty good but its not without its small problems later down the road.. my dentist asked me what i thought of it because he said hes heard alot of people have problems with the procedure..
google TMJ there are many options out there , therapies and such to try before surgery. see if any of those work before you jump into the surgery. you might want to save up . income tax return or something and find someone that takes payments or something because when i did it. it was 10 percent down and the rest right before the surgery!
im not sure if i had went back in time if i would do it again or not or just take some pain pills or accupunture or something and try that first...
they do give you headaches alot too (the new joints that is)

Call your local dental society and see if they have any programs for indigent care. Also call the United Way, churches, even local dentists. Also check dental colleges in your state. You have numerous options. You can e-mail me at davelennv@yahoo.com, and i will help you with your research.