I just don't understand how anyone can make a sound decision with this problem. You talk to Maxillofacial Surgeons and they want to do surgery, if there is problems like a badly displaced disc. Then you hear surgery is the last resort no matter what in fact they try to avoid it altogether. I've even heard of the most horrific stories of people who had their disc's taken out, or joint replacements and are in the same agony.. Then they tell you to go to an orthodontist that deals with TMJ or is into neuromuscular dentistry. Then I hear of many who have splints or orthodontic work and are still having pain or are in more pain with more problems and some that have had to have total mouth reconstruction because of the orthodontic splints they were given, and the after effects, also with no end to their pain. Is this because there just isn't enough good specialist who really know what they are doing.... Then you run into certain ones that tell you it really has to do with CNS and muscles in your jaw, that need chiropractic work, or massage therapy or a number of other alternative treatments, many claiming to be TMJ-TMD specialists.... I am so discouraged with the whole thing. Who can you trust???? Where do you turn for constructive answers????? There is a whole lot of people out there in terrible pain, and for some reason no one wants to pay attention to this problem, many in the medical shun you or just plain ignore your symptoms like they don't exist.... There needs to be more research and funding put into this... So many doctors tell you they have the answer, but I don't know if its due to lack of experience, expecially with knowledge or expertise with splints or orthodontics, as I have read of endless amounts of stories on these sites of patients with no relief to their pain, even though they have gone that route, many spending countless amounts of money they could ill afford to spend....... I've even been to some Doctors who promise to solve your problem and then say afterwards they are not sure it will have success, after you started up the treatment....All I know is where I am living try finding someone who knows what they are really talking about here in Ontario, Canada. Even if you do find any type of specialist they are a rookie.....Its really is a shame that people are suffering like this, and there just isn't enough being done by the way of getting funding and more research to better understand this problem no matter how complicated it is...... Would like to hear from others on this.....