ALF appliance

[LisOT]

Looking for a qualified ALF dentist/orthodontist in the midwest region.  I need help ASAP!  I swallowed a pill three years ago that got stuck in my throat...I believe it did vagus nerve damage.  I had tachycardia,  flucuating BP, atrophy of the neck muscles, difficulty swallowing, thyroid problems, digestive problems, etc.  I lost 20 lbs and became allergic to many foods and became very sick.  Chiropractic care, specifically AO helped calm kown the CNS and neuromuscular dentistry helped a little with a lower appliance to let my jaw track left again, but then it was hitting wrong on the maxillary teeth.  So now I am in Damon braces that has helped, but I KNOW that my palate is out of balance!  As a teen an ortho pulled my first bicuspids and wisdom teeth and shoved everything back...the braces have helped to pull everything out, but I can still feel the left side of my palate feels "stuck".  I have spent probably around $10,000 with chiro and dental/ortho care.  I have been searching for an ALF dentist that is well versed.  I have been in contact with Dr. Nordstrom and Mahony and both won't give me any specific dentist.  They told me to call Murdock lab to find a dentist in the area.  I did that and went to see a dentist in WI for $700 cosult and was NOT happy with his knowledge.  PLEASE can you help me find a qualified ALF dentist  in the midwest area.  Don't know why, but Nordstrom told me not to see Drs. Spahl, Keller or Smith...he said they have contributed, but they are not the person for me...to bad since he is such the expert that he can't tell me who is.  UGH!  Thank you for any help you can offer.

[ThreeMom]

Hello,

Just wondering how the ALF appliances are working for you.  Do you have the braces on yet?  Just interested in your progress?  I am possibly going to start this treatment also.  thanks  

Also, If you can give a general cost of the ALF appliances and then Damon braces I would love to know.  thanks

[konnimah]

Just wanted to add that I just started seeing Dr. Dana Hodge King in San Antonio, TX. She is helping me with my TMJ problems. I'm starting with ALF's then moving onto braces. I honestly don't know what the outcome will be since I just started but she's very committed to what she's doing. Her office can get really busy but she always takes her time with her clients. The office has made some exceptions for me because of my schedule and the payment plan was pretty good. I've been wearing the ALF's for about 2 weeks - so far so good.

http://www.danahodgeking.com/index.html

Hope this helps anyone out there.

[careyorielly]

Dr Griffiths is experienced and committed to what she does. I am starting to train with her myself, being a dentist. Hope this helps, Carey ORielly, DDS

[jluna7591]

Has anyone tried Dr. Rebecca Griffiths in Phoenix, Arizona?  Or Dr. Edwin Delz in Pompano Beach, Florida?    

[jen1889906]

How was your outcome?  I have very similar symptoms (but my biggest complaint is breathing problems -- I almost feel like I'm about to passout all the time.  Just worried about other clinical diagnoses, but have done about 1/2 the research I can & no answers.  I also had the 4 pre-mohlers removed & wisdom teeth (1/4th our teeth apparently) & have a very narrow jaw.  When I started developing TMJ problems years ago (in college), the orthodontist just kept giving me appliances to keep growing in my mohlers.  Now my mouth feels way too full w/ teeth & I hit hard on one side & don't feel like I hit at all on the other.  I also have arm/shoulder/neck pain.  Pretty much all over pain, but breathing's a new one this year.  Just wondering if your symptoms improved....

[LisOT]

Hey guys....got in to see Dr. Lemke from CO/NJ, so far so good.  I get my upper and lower ALF appliance in December.  She is wonderful.  Had a terrible experience with a dentist in IN that cost me $3800 for NOTHING!!!!  please contact me if you want his name. I found out the hard way after seeing three dentists that they will bait and switch you and promise that they do the ALF appliance and then want you to do all these other expensive appliances....it is a scam.  Mojo, Dr. Lemke is located at the four corners, she is in Durango, CO...I will keep you updated on how it is going and how I like her.  I have heard from other dentists that the one in NY his ego gets in the way of treatment sometimes?????

[Seduj]

Hi again,

I just wanted to say that I have been in touch with Gerald Smith and he was extremely helfpul.  His website is really great. It was the first place I found information about the ALF which lead me on this extensive search.  I really liked his information on the pronation of the feet.  However, I dont live in the US, so that's why I havent been to see him...yet.  If my search for a good, affordable dentist who has the right mindset continues as it is...I may see him too.  Please keep us up to date on how things go with your case :)

Good luck!!

[Momo327]

Hello Everyone,
I also found out about the ALF appliance this year and from the endless research I have done, there IS A TOP ALF APPLIANCE DENTIST in the U.S. in Pennsylvania, named Dr. Gerald Smith. He is even referenced on many ALF case studies and medical sites as having the most extensive knowledge on the appliance aside from the creator, Nordstrom. He has tons of case studies on his website and teaches professional seminars on the ALF in the U.S. and internationally. I am going to look into having a phone consultation with him first to explain my situation and all the steps I have taken so far, as I live in Arizona, but I think he's going to be the guy to finally piece together my rare case of chronic 24/7 deep ear pain and pressure related to TMJ. His website is www.icnr.com. Look at all of his case studies and you will see he knows his stuff and may be expensive. We will see. Good luck to all of you!

[LisOT]

I have been in touch with Murdock lab and they gave me the names of five dentists....they are suppose to know the best ones and I asked specifically for the most experienced, but the first one they gave me they said "they are not busy with the ALF, but have used it for awhile" - DOES THAT SOUND LIKE AN EXPERT TO YOU????????????????????  It DOESN'T to me!!!  This is who I am suppose to rely on for info??????  PainDr. you said you know the more experienced ones, BUT you can not comment?????  How is that helpful????  How can a dental lab give me names of who they use, but a experienced DDS can not give names of who he knows.  Dr. Lemke has posted a list of names on her website....I tried to get into her, but she doesn't not have any opening "possibley" until October.  PainDr. why can't you post names of the people you know and let us decide for ourselves?????  Seduj if people would just understand that if they offered an affordable and excellent service that they would be busy and financially fulfilled, not making a "mint" as you say, lol.  My father owned businesses all over the US and we lived comfortable lives as he decided to give back to our community and others in many ways.  AGAIN we are here on this earth to help others and that is what I will always strive to do....  PainDr. if you say you can help the ones that come to you....well then I am coming to you right now....can you help?  You did not solicite me, just because you answer my questions doesn't mean I will do what you say or go to who you know.....I make my own decisions.  I know that different treatments are not a guarantee in life but I would like to at least have the option of deciding for myself.  

P.S. As an OT, a speech therapist friend of mine called me yesterday and told me her husband's employee who hurt his hand in a machine (serious) needs an OT certified in hand therapy.....I gave them a name I know ......just giving people options to better their own health.  He doesn't have to use this person, but at least he has a name of someone who has 20 plus years of experience! :)

[Seduj]

I heard about ALF when researching my issues online in the hours and hours of research over the past year trying to find answers.  But i finally found a dentist in the UK and flew here a week ago to find a professional I could trust to ensure the right diagnosis and treatment.  I dont live in the UK or the US so finding somewhere to fly to constantly for adjustments is nearly impossible.  I found one dentist here not that good, but the other is Brilliant!  He knew exactly what I have been saying about the link between postural alignment and my tmj and suggested I see a Podiatrist to fix issues with from my feet up and he can fix the TMJ down.  Along with this, I understand the issues with maintaining an extremely healthy diet to ensure the body can repare itself along the way and hoped to start using an oesteodontic or crainial oesteopath to assist the movement of the appliances.

The only problem is, and i am sure there are many in the same position....money!  The one dentist that didnt even mention a link to the body and just focused on moving the teeth is cheaper (not cheap) but I am NO  way going to let him at me!  I would rather not be touched by someone who is as LisOT puts it: "swearing to "first do no harm"!"  I would love to know how people can justify asking $17k to fix health issues!  (thats ontop of me flying to get there for treatment on a monthly basis, impossible).  I understand that they have a profession that they have worked years on to achieve their knowledge, but I find it surprising that this information and knowledge is for them a way to make them a mint!

I personally am involved in some medical missions with humanitarian work, and the people I have worked with want to give the knowledge to people that just want to be healthy and dont have the means to fund it.  Surely that must be apart of their oath too.

Sorry for venting, but like LisOT, I am tired of suffering and looking for answers.  I hope to keep these blogs up until I have searched out and solved these issues, and want to share the knowledge I learn along the way....free!

[LisOT]

Dr. Pain is right! I have Damon braces because I did not learn about ALF until after the fact. If I had to do it all over again, I believe you should do ALF to position the maxilla properly (it is your cranial foundation) and then damon system. You may not even need the Damon system after ALF???? The Damon system has helped me, but at the last adjustment in march it started to jam my palate even more, causing dizziness and my neck to go out of place. I am waiting to hear back from Murdock Lab. Seduj's I suggest you do the same and contact Murdock Lab, get a dentist well versed....that has been my problem from the beginning. I wish the dentist and orthodontists understood better what they are doing to people and the longterm affects it has on their whole body. When and if this works I will be spreading the word, because it should not be this hard to find a good doctor. I know PainDr. can not solicite patients, but I feel that we are all on this earth to love and serve....how is it that all these professionals that know who is the best in their field can not tell someone that needs their help?  Our medical oath is "first do no harm"....I don't know if the dental oath is the same?  By doing nothing...isn't that actually doing something?  I don't get it??? Sorry, but I am beyond frustruated and tired of suffering.  

[Seduj]

I have been researching the ALF and the Damon brace and I just found a place in NY, I know that you said mid-west...but I thought I would share anyway.  The dentist there is DrLerner.  I have PM you too.

I am desperately trying to find the right way to go about starting some treatment too.  If anyone knows the pro's and con's to using the Damon brace instead of the ALF would be great to know, so I dont make the wrong decision.  I have TMJ issues due to an overbite which gives me a whole lot of other imbalances throughout the body.