Face Forward with Dr. Tim Betita: Answers about Oral and Facial Surgery

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Is your jaw pain something nobody can figure out? Were you told you're not a candidate for implants and sent home with no real plan?Dr. Tim Betita is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon and physician who has treated thousands of TMJ and full arch dental implant patients across Southern California. He trained as both a dentist and a medical doctor, has performed thousands of jaw and implant surgeries, and now trains other surgeons in the procedures he pioneered.  On this podcast he breaks down what most doctors get wrong about jaw pain and tooth loss and shows you exactly what a real path forward looks like.If you've been dismissed, misdiagnosed, or told to just live with it, you're in the right place.New episodes every week.

Episodes

  1. 3d ago

    Most Dentists Tell Patients Over 70 They Can't Get Implants. They're Wrong.

    📌 Learn more: https://dentalimplantsgps.com/ If you are over 80 and someone told you that you cannot get dental implants, listen closely. That is not a medical verdict. It is often just a sign that a particular office did not have the training or tools to make it work for you. In this episode, I'm going to explain why older patients get turned away so often, what a complete implant evaluation actually looks like, and how you can tell whether the no you received was a real answer or an incomplete one. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Most Dentists Tell Patients Over 70 They Can't Get Implants. They're Wrong. 0:58 What "not a candidate" really means 2:04 Why specialists exist for complex cases 3:39 The real variable is bone, not age 4:56 The jaw has more bone than you think 5:29 Was your evaluation actually complete 7:24 5 questions to ask about your last "no" 8:23 What changes with the right evaluation 9:30 My grandmother's story 10:24 What to do this week ❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED Can someone over 80 get dental implants? Yes, in most cases. Being told you are not a candidate usually reflects the tools and training of that specific office, not a true limit of your body. Why do older patients get told they don't have enough bone? Many providers only evaluate the visible ridge bone, but structures like the cheekbone, palate, and back of the upper jaw can also anchor implants when a specialist knows how to use them. How do I know if my "no" was a complete answer? Ask if a 3D cone beam CT scan was taken, if a specific bone deficiency was named, and if you were referred to a surgeon trained in advanced techniques like zygomatic or pterygoid implants. If not, your evaluation was likely incomplete. 📱 RESOURCES Website: https://dentalimplantsgps.com/ Practice: https://www.niguelcoastoralsurgery.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dentalimplantsgps/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dentalimplantsgps TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dentalimplantsgps 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on jaw pain, full arch dental implants, and what to actually expect when oral surgery is on the table. If you've been dismissed, misdiagnosed, or told to just live with it, you're in the right place. ABOUT DR. TIM BETITA: Dr. Tim Betita is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, licensed dentist, and physician. He holds a DDS from the University of the Pacific and an MD from UT Health San Antonio. After treating thousands of full arch implant and TMJ patients across Southern California, he now trains other surgeons in the minimally invasive techniques he has pioneered. His approach: find strong bone, build around it, and protect what doesn't need to go. #OralSurgeon #DentalImplants #TMJ #FullArchImplants #JawPain

  2. Jul 23

    If My Jaw Started Popping and Clicking, Here's Exactly What I'd Do First

    📌 Learn more: https://dentalimplantsgps.com/ If my jaw started clicking tomorrow, I know exactly what I would do first. Most people do nothing. They wait, they Google it, and they hope it goes away on its own. That is the mistake that turns an easy fix into a hard one. In this episode, I'm going to explain what's actually happening inside your jaw joint when it clicks, walk you through a simple self-assessment you can do tonight, and show you the one step almost nobody takes before their first TMJ appointment. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS  0:00 If My Jaw Started Popping and Clicking, Here's Exactly What I'd Do First 0:58 Why most people wait and why that's a mistake  2:19 What to understand before your first TMJ appointment  3:51 What's really happening inside your jaw when it clicks  6:10 Joint problem vs muscle problem: why the difference matters  9:03 The one move I'd make before starting any treatment  11:00 Self-check: joint pain or muscle pain tonight  13:30 The bite test to pinpoint your problem  16:00 Why starting here doesn't mean surgery ❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED  Why does my jaw click when I open my mouth?  Clicking happens when the small cartilage disc inside your TMJ shifts out of position and your jawbone catches it as it slides back into place. It is a mechanical signal, not just a random sound.  Is a clicking jaw always something to worry about?  Not always. Many people click for years without pain or progression, but painless clicking with fatigue, restriction, or bite changes should still be evaluated so you know which category you fall into.  How do I know if my jaw problem is the joint or the muscles?  Press directly in front of your ear canal while opening and closing your jaw to check the joint, then press along your jaw line, cheekbone, and temple to check the muscles. Pain at the joint points to a disc problem, while tenderness in the muscles points to a muscular problem, and many people actually have both. 📱 RESOURCES  Website: https://dentalimplantsgps.com/  Practice: https://www.niguelcoastoralsurgery.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dentalimplantsgps/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dentalimplantsgps  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dentalimplantsgps 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on jaw pain, full arch dental implants, and what to actually expect when oral surgery is on the table. If you've been dismissed, misdiagnosed, or told to just live with it, you're in the right place. ABOUT DR. TIM BETITA:  Dr. Tim Betita is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, licensed dentist, and physician. He holds a DDS from the University of the Pacific and an MD from UT Health San Antonio. After treating thousands of full arch implant and TMJ patients across Southern California, he now trains other surgeons in the minimally invasive techniques he has pioneered. His approach: find strong bone, build around it, and protect what doesn't need to go. #OralSurgeon #DentalImplants #TMJ #FullArchImplants #JawPain

  3. Jul 16

    Dentures vs. Full Arch Implants: I've Watched Both Play Out. Here's What I'd Choose

    📌 Learn more: https://dentalimplantsgps.com/ Dentures or full arch implants. I have placed both. I have watched both play out over years and decades in real patients. This is not a marketing comparison. This is what I actually see when patients come back years later. In this episode, I'm going to break down what dentures and full arch implants actually do inside your body over time, where each one falls short, and which one I recommend and why. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS  0:00 Dentures vs. Full Arch Implants: I've Watched Both Play Out. Here's What I'd Choose 0:52 The real case for dentures  2:00 Why dentures cause bone loss over time  5:15 What full arch means, and how it differs from full mouth  7:37 The shortcut some surgeons take that costs you later  9:39 The five questions that decide which option is right for you  11:10 Here's the verdict, my honest recommendation  12:20 My grandmother's denture story  13:20 Three questions to bring to your next consultation ❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED  What is the difference between dentures and full arch dental implants?  Dentures sit on top of the gums and do not stop the jawbone from shrinking over time. Full arch implants anchor into the bone itself and can preserve it, giving a fixed and stable set of teeth. Are full arch implants better than dentures?  For patients who are medically stable and have enough bone, full arch implants are generally the better long term choice because they protect bone and function for decades. Dentures cost less upfront but often lead to ongoing bone loss, relines, and replacements over time. Is there an age limit for getting dental implants?  No, age alone does not disqualify someone from implants. Candidacy depends on medical stability and available bone, which can only be confirmed with a CT scan and an experienced oral surgeon. 📱 RESOURCES Website: https://www.niguelcoastoralsurgery.com/ https://dentalimplantsgps.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dentalimplantsgps/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dentalimplantsgps TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dentalimplantsgps 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on jaw pain, full arch dental implants, and what to actually expect when oral surgery is on the table. If you've been dismissed, misdiagnosed, or told to just live with it, you're in the right place. ABOUT DR. TIM BETITA:  Dr. Tim Betita is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, licensed dentist, and physician. He holds a DDS from the University of the Pacific and an MD from UT Health San Antonio. After treating thousands of full arch implant and TMJ patients across Southern California, he now trains other surgeons in the minimally invasive techniques he has pioneered. His approach: find strong bone, build around it, and protect what doesn't need to go. #OralSurgeon #DentalImplants #TMJ #FullArchImplants #JawPain

  4. Jul 9

    Diagnosed With TMJ? Watch This Before You Agree to Surgery

    📌 Learn more: https://dentalimplantsgps.com/ There's a question I hear from almost every woman who comes to see me after seeing two or three other providers first. It's not whether she needs surgery. It's why nobody could ever explain what was actually happening to her jaw. In this episode, I'm going to break down why the word TMJ is often just a label, why women get stuck in this diagnostic loop more than anyone else, and what a complete explanation of your situation should actually look like. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS  0:00 Diagnosed With TMJ? Watch This Before You Agree to Surgery 0:23 TMJ label versus TMJ diagnosis  1:26 Joint problem versus muscle problem  2:37 Why night guards fail so many patients  3:14 Why women are affected nine to one  4:28 How stress and hormones change your jaw  6:03 Questions that reveal your real diagnosis  7:19 The referral most patients never get  10:02 What to bring to your next appointment ❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED  Is TMJ a real diagnosis or just a placeholder term?  TMJ is often used as a catch all phrase for joint damage, muscle spasm, or nerve involvement, which are three different problems needing three different treatments. If your provider used the word TMJ without specifying which structure is involved, you have not yet received a full diagnosis. Why are women affected by TMJ disorders more than men?  Women make up roughly nine out of every ten TMJ patients, largely due to hormonal factors, joint laxity, and how stress loads differently into the female jaw and face. Most standard TMJ workups are not built to account for these differences, which is part of why women are frequently undertreated. What should I ask my doctor if I feel dismissed about my jaw pain?  Ask which specific structure is causing your pain, what your imaging shows about that structure, and what the next step is if treatment does not improve things within six weeks. A provider who can answer clearly is working from a complete picture, and one who cannot may not have the full scope needed for your case. 📱 RESOURCES  Website: https://dentalimplantsgps.com/  Practice: https://www.niguelcoastoralsurgery.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dentalimplantsgps/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dentalimplantsgps  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dentalimplantsgps 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on jaw pain, full arch dental implants, and what to actually expect when oral surgery is on the table. If you've been dismissed, misdiagnosed, or told to just live with it, you're in the right place. ABOUT DR. TIM BETITA:  Dr. Tim Betita is a board certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, licensed dentist, and physician. He holds a DDS from the University of the Pacific and an MD from UT Health San Antonio. After treating thousands of full arch implant and TMJ patients across Southern California, he now trains other surgeons in the minimally invasive techniques he has pioneered. His approach: find strong bone, build around it, and protect what doesn't need to go. #OralSurgeon #DentalImplants #TMJ #FullArchImplants #JawPain

  5. Jul 2

    5 Signs Your Implants May Be Failing Right Now. Here Is How to Know. (And What to Do About It)

    📌 Learn more: https://dentalimplantsgps.com/ Something still feels off after your dental implants, and you are not imagining it. The problem is that most of these warning signs get explained away until they become something much harder to fix. Catching them early is the difference between a simple adjustment and a full revision. In this episode, I'm going to walk you through five signs your dental implants may be failing, and for each one give you a specific question to ask yourself so you know whether it applies to you. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS  0:00 - 5 Signs Your Implants May Be Failing Right Now. Here Is How to Know. (And What to Do About It) 1:09 - Sign 1: Your bite feels different after surgery  3:07 - Sign 2: Persistent soreness or pressure in one spot  6:12 - Sign 3: Your gum line around the implant has changed  8:44 - Sign 4: You were told you have bone loss but never got a full explanation  11:12 - Sign 5: The implant feels fine but you have never had a follow-up scan  13:15 - Peri-implantitis: what it is and why it matters  14:27 - What to do before your next appointment ❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED Q: How do you know if a dental implant is failing?  A: Early warning signs include a bite that feels different than before surgery, persistent soreness in one specific spot, and visible changes to the gum line around the implant. These signs often get dismissed, but each one warrants imaging and a formal evaluation. Q: What is peri-implantitis and how do you catch it early?  A: Peri-implantitis is an inflammatory condition around a dental implant that leads to bone loss. It produces no pain in its early stages, so the only way to catch it before it becomes serious is through regular X-rays that specifically measure bone levels around each implant. Q: Can dental implant bone loss be treated? A: Bone loss around implants caught early can often be managed without removing the implant. Bone loss that goes undetected for a year or more may require implant removal and a full revision, which is why routine monitoring is critical. 📱 RESOURCES  Website: https://dentalimplantsgps.com/  Practice: https://www.niguelcoastoralsurgery.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dentalimplantsgps/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dentalimplantsgps  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dentalimplantsgps 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on jaw pain, full arch dental implants, and what to actually expect when oral surgery is on the table. If you've been dismissed, misdiagnosed, or told to just live with it, you're in the right place. ABOUT DR. TIM BETITA:  Dr. Tim Betita is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, licensed dentist, and physician. He holds a DDS from the University of the Pacific and an MD from UT Health San Antonio. After treating thousands of full arch implant and TMJ patients across Southern California, he now trains other surgeons in the minimally invasive techniques he has pioneered. His approach: find strong bone, build around it, and protect what doesn't need to go. #OralSurgeon #DentalImplants #TMJ #FullArchImplants #JawPain

  6. Jun 25

    Braces Keep Getting Recommending for TMJ Problems. It Doesn't Work. Here's Why.

    📌 Learn more: https://dentalimplantsgps.com/ You spent months in braces. Maybe years. Your jaw still hurts. Clicking, headaches, pain radiating into your ear or temple. Someone told you fixing your bite would take pressure off your jaw joint. It didn't. That treatment was never going to fix what was actually driving the pain. In this episode, I'm going to show you why bite correction doesn't resolve jaw pain, how to tell whether your problem is inside the joint or in the surrounding muscles, and what the real treatment sequence looks like. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS  0:00 Braces Keep Getting Recommending for TMJ Problems. It Doesn't Work. Here's Why. 4:09 Why some patients feel better during braces, then crash  7:22 How to identify which problem you actually have  9:05 The popsicle stick test (do this right now)  11:19 The treatment ladder: start here before anything else  13:02 Why the window for conservative treatment closes  14:31 The one question to ask at your next appointment  15:06 What to do tonight for immediate relief ❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED: Q: Can braces fix TMJ pain?  A: No. Bite correction addresses tooth alignment, not the disc inside the joint or the muscles surrounding it. Straightening teeth has real benefits, but eliminating jaw pain is not one of them. Q: What are the two types of TMJ problems?  A: One is a disc problem inside the joint itself. The other is a muscle and nerve problem in the tissues surrounding the joint. They produce similar symptoms but require completely different treatment. Q: How do I know if my jaw pain is a joint problem or a muscle problem?  A: Press firmly on the muscles just in front of your earlobe and along your jawline. Tender spots that recreate your familiar pain point to a muscle problem. Pain localized at the joint when it clicks, or true jaw locking, points to an internal joint problem. 📱 RESOURCES  Website: https://dentalimplantsgps.com/  Practice: https://www.niguelcoastoralsurgery.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dentalimplantsgps/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dentalimplantsgps  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dentalimplantsgps Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCza50nmI16PXpDVHOmphB6w/ 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on jaw pain, full arch dental implants, and what to actually expect when oral surgery is on the table. If you've been dismissed, misdiagnosed, or told to just live with it, you're in the right place. ABOUT DR. TIM BETITA:  Dr. Tim Betita is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, licensed dentist, and physician. He holds a DDS from the University of the Pacific and an MD from UT Health San Antonio. After treating thousands of full arch implant and TMJ patients across Southern California, he now trains other surgeons in the minimally invasive techniques he has pioneered. His approach: find strong bone, build around it, and protect what doesn't need to go. #OralSurgeon #DentalImplants #TMJ #FullArchImplants #JawPain

  7. Jun 18

    What Happens Inside Your Body When a Missing Tooth Goes Unreplaced

    📌 Learn more: https://dentalimplantsgps.com/ Most people who lose a tooth assume the hard part is over once it heals. The socket closes, the gums look fine, and life moves on. What almost nobody tells you is that the moment that tooth comes out, something starts happening underneath the gum line that has nothing to do with your smile. In this episode, I'm going to walk you through exactly what happens inside your body when a missing tooth goes unreplaced, why most dental visits never address this, and what the right next step actually looks like. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS  0:00 What Happens Inside Your Body When a Missing Tooth Goes Unreplaced 1:23 Why the bone underneath that gap is already changing  2:11 How jawbone loss reshapes your face over time  3:20 Why dentures accelerate bone loss instead of stopping it  4:07 The dietary shift most people never connect back to their teeth  5:33 Muscle loss, grip strength, and the longevity link  6:09 What happened to my grandmother (and what I missed at the time)  7:10 How to tell if this is already affecting someone you care about  8:47 The systemic connection your dentist and doctor are both missing  11:00 What the right path forward actually looks like ❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED Q: Does a missing tooth cause bone loss?  A: Yes. Within the first year after extraction, you can lose up to 25% of the bone volume in that area. The jawbone stays dense only because of the pressure from chewing, and once the tooth is gone, that signal stops. Q: Can a missing tooth affect your nutrition and overall health?  A: Missing teeth gradually restrict your diet toward softer, processed foods. High-protein, nutrient-dense foods become harder to eat, which can contribute to muscle loss, reduced energy, and lower immune function over time. Q: Can a missing tooth cause systemic health problems beyond the mouth?  A: Research links chronic oral infection from diseased or missing teeth to cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, and neurological changes associated with dementia. The mechanism is likely chronic low-grade inflammation from oral bacteria circulating in the bloodstream. 📱 RESOURCES  Website: https://dentalimplantsgps.com/  Practice: https://www.niguelcoastoralsurgery.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dentalimplantsgps/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dentalimplantsgps  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dentalimplantsgps Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCza50nmI16PXpDVHOmphB6w/ 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on jaw pain, full arch dental implants, and what to actually expect when oral surgery is on the table. If you've been dismissed, misdiagnosed, or told to just live with it, you're in the right place. ABOUT DR. TIM BETITA:  Dr. Tim Betita is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, licensed dentist, and physician. He holds a DDS from the University of the Pacific and an MD from UT Health San Antonio. After treating thousands of full arch implant and TMJ patients across Southern California, he now trains other surgeons in the minimally invasive techniques he has pioneered. His approach: find strong bone, build around it, and protect what doesn't need to go. #OralSurgeon #DentalImplants #TMJ #FullArchImplants #JawPain

  8. Jun 11

    The Biggest Lie in Implant Surgery (And What To Do Instead)

    📌 Learn more: https://dentalimplantsgps.com/ Almost everything you've read about full arch dental implants tells you what you're getting. Almost nothing tells you what you're losing. And what you're losing is something that cannot be fully restored once it's gone. You came in to fix your teeth. You may be leaving with less jaw than you arrived with. Most patients never know this is a decision at all. In this episode, I'm going to walk you through exactly what the standard surgical approach does to your bone, why surgeons do it that way even when they don't have to, and what a different philosophy produces for the patient over the long run. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – What full arch surgery takes from you that nobody talks about 1:13 – Point 1: Bone loss on surgery day is permanent 2:48 – How bone loss changes the shape of your face over time 3:28 – Point 2: Why surgeons remove more bone than necessary 4:50 – Your bone is being shaped around the prosthetic, not your anatomy 6:01 – Point 3: How to evaluate whether your consultation is built around your bone 7:23 – The thinner bridge approach that protects bone most patients never know to ask for 9:21 – The correct planning sequence: anatomy first, prosthetic second 10:03 – Point 5: What to do before your next consultation 11:39 – How to find a surgeon trained in bone-protective techniques ❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED Q: Do dental implants cause bone loss? A: Full arch surgery can cause significant bone loss if the standard approach is used. Surgeons often shave down the bone ridge to make room for the prosthetic bridge. That bone does not grow back. Q: What questions should I ask before full arch dental implant surgery? A: Ask your surgeon how much bone will be removed and why that amount is specific to your anatomy, not the prosthetic. Ask to see a 3D digital planning model showing how the bridge design was matched to your bone before options were presented to you. Q: What is a bone-protective approach to full arch dental implants? A: A bone-protective approach uses a thinner bridge design that requires less bone removal, with implants placed deeper in the jaw to preserve the ridge. It takes more planning time but protects the facial foundation that your appearance depends on for decades. 📱 RESOURCES Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCza50nmI16PXpDVHOmphB6w/ Website: https://dentalimplantsgps.com/ Practice: https://www.niguelcoastoralsurgery.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dentalimplantsgps/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dentalimplantsgps TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dentalimplantsgps 🔔 Subscribe to this podcast for weekly episodes on jaw pain, full arch dental implants, and what to actually expect when oral surgery is on the table. If you've been dismissed, misdiagnosed, or told to just live with it, you're in the right place. ABOUT DR. TIM BETITA: Dr. Tim Betita is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, licensed dentist, and physician. He holds a DDS from the University of the Pacific and an MD from UT Health San Antonio. After treating thousands of full arch implant and TMJ patients across Southern California, he now trains other surgeons in the minimally invasive techniques he has pioneered. His approach: find strong bone, build around it, and protect what doesn't need to go. #OralSurgeon #DentalImplants #TMJ #FullArchImplants #JawPain

  9. Jun 4

    I'm an Oral Surgeon. Surgery Is Almost Never My First Answer

    📌 Schedule a consultation: https://www.niguelcoastoralsurgery.com/contact-our-oral-surgeons-dana-point-ca/ I am a dentist, a physician, and a surgeon. I trained for over a decade to operate on patients with the most severe cases. And I'm going to tell you right now that surgery is never where I start. If you've been told you need something removed, something replaced, or something reconstructed, and you're not sure whether that's actually true, this video is for you.  After treating thousands of patients and training other surgeons in the procedures I use, I started seeing a pattern in the cases that went wrong. It almost never had to do with surgical skill. It had to do with doing too much. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:49 You've been told you need something done: here's what to know first 1:05 What I found: the outcomes that fell short weren't from poor surgery 1:26 Point 1: A referral to a surgeon is not a prescription for surgery 3:31 Point 2: Removing bone you didn't have to remove is a permanent  6:24 Point 3: Three questions that tell you everything about your surgeon 7:45 Point 4: The patients who get the best outcomes show up differently 8:59 Point 5: What to do before you walk into a surgeon's office 10:50 Second opinions, specialists, and what "not a candidate" usually means ❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED Q: If my dentist referred me to an oral surgeon, does that mean I definitely need surgery? A: No. A surgical consultation is a diagnosis appointment, not a surgery approval. The first job is to figure out what is actually going on and what the right next step is for your specific case. Some patients who arrive ready for surgery have options they were never told about. Slow down, ask questions, and make sure the diagnosis is clear before agreeing to anything. Q: Why do some practices remove so much bone during full arch implant surgery? A: A thicker dental bridge requires more clearance, so bone gets removed to make space. Patients are told this is just part of the process. But bone is living tissue, it gives your face shape, supports how you chew, and determines what options you have years from now. When you take bone that didn't need to go, you cannot put it back. The surgical philosophy I use is to find the strong, healthy bone that still exists, plan precisely around it using 3D imaging, and take nothing that doesn't have to go. Q: What are the three questions I should ask any surgeon before agreeing to a procedure? A: First: what is the most conservative option here and what would have to be true for that to work for my situation? Second: how much bone gets removed in this procedure and does it have to be that much? Third: if I need something revisited in ten years, what am I working with? A surgeon who is thinking about you will answer all three directly. If the answers are vague or the questions get dismissed, that is useful information too. 📱 RESOURCES Website: https://www.niguelcoastoralsurgery.com/ https://dentalimplantsgps.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dentalimplantsgps/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dentalimplantsgps TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dentalimplantsgps Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCza50nmI16PXpDVHOmphB6w/ 🔔 Subscribe to this podcast for weekly episodes on jaw pain, full arch dental implants, and what to actually expect when oral surgery is on the table. If you've been dismissed, misdiagnosed, or told to just live with it, you're in the right place. ABOUT DR. TIM BETITA: Dr. Tim Betita is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, licensed dentist, and physician. He holds a DDS from the University of the Pacific and an MD from UT Health San Antonio. After treating thousands of full arch implant and TMJ patients across Southern California, he now trains other surgeons in the minimally invasive techniques he has pioneered. His approach: find strong bone, build around it, and protect what doesn't need to go. #OralSurgeon #DentalImplants #TMJ #FullArchImplants #JawPain

  10. Jun 4

    You Don't Have TMJ. You Have One of These Two Things Instead

    📌 Learn more: https://dentalimplantsgps.com/ Most TMJ diagnoses are technically wrong. Not because your pain isn't real, but because "TMJ" is just the name of the joint. It tells you where the pain is, not what is actually causing it. Two completely different problems live in that region with opposite treatments, and if no one has separated them for you, you are very likely being treated for the wrong one. In this episode, I'm going to walk you through a 6-question screening that tells you whether your jaw pain is even TMJ-related, the critical difference between a joint problem and a muscle problem, and exactly what to start doing tonight if your pain is on the muscle side. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Why most TMJ diagnoses miss the point entirely 0:40 The 6-question TMJ screening test (99% sensitivity) 1:46 How to score the questionnaire and what it means for you 3:33 TMJ is a location, not a diagnosis: what that actually means for you 4:47 The two problems hiding under one label 5:48 Joint problems vs. muscle problems: what each one looks and feels like 9:16 The specific questions that tell you which category you are in 11:30 Why treatment sequence matters more than the treatment itself 14:06 What to start doing tonight if your jaw pain is muscle-driven ❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED Q: Is TMJ actually a diagnosis? A:TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, which is simply the name of the joint. Saying you have TMJ is like saying you have a knee. It identifies a location, not a condition. Q; How do I know if my jaw pain is a joint problem or a muscle problem? A: Joint problems typically produce consistent clicking at the same point when you open or close, and sometimes a jaw that physically locks. Muscle problems tend to produce tender spots along the jaw and temple that recreate your exact pain when pressed. Locking is a strong indicator of a joint issue; trigger point tenderness points toward muscle. Q: Can muscle tension in the jaw cause the same symptoms as a damaged joint? A: Yes. The muscles surrounding the jaw can generate the same sensations of pain and tightness as a damaged joint. Up to 85% of people walking around with a TMJ diagnosis actually have a muscle or nerve problem, not a structural joint issue. 📱 RESOURCES Website: https://dentalimplantsgps.com/ Practice: https://www.niguelcoastoralsurgery.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dentalimplantsgps/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dentalimplantsgps TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dentalimplantsgps Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCza50nmI16PXpDVHOmphB6w/ 🔔 Subscribe to this podcast for weekly episodes on jaw pain, full arch dental implants, and what to actually expect when oral surgery is on the table. If you've been dismissed, misdiagnosed, or told to just live with it, you're in the right place. ABOUT DR. TIM BETITA: Dr. Tim Betita is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, licensed dentist, and physician. He holds a DDS from the University of the Pacific and an MD from UT Health San Antonio. After treating thousands of full arch implant and TMJ patients across Southern California, he now trains other surgeons in the minimally invasive techniques he has pioneered. His approach: find strong bone, build around it, and protect what doesn't need to go. #OralSurgeon #DentalImplants #TMJ #FullArchImplants #JawPain

  • 10 Episodes

About

Is your jaw pain something nobody can figure out? Were you told you're not a candidate for implants and sent home with no real plan?Dr. Tim Betita is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon and physician who has treated thousands of TMJ and full arch dental implant patients across Southern California. He trained as both a dentist and a medical doctor, has performed thousands of jaw and implant surgeries, and now trains other surgeons in the procedures he pioneered.  On this podcast he breaks down what most doctors get wrong about jaw pain and tooth loss and shows you exactly what a real path forward looks like.If you've been dismissed, misdiagnosed, or told to just live with it, you're in the right place.New episodes every week.

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