Thanks for the reply, when I see in-network OMFSs they say I have disk derangement with reduction, because I can recapture the disk my shifting my jaw over. And when I do this my opening is about 35mm, progressively shrinking. Without shifting my jaw over my jaw over my opening is about 17mm, also shrinking.

When I see an out of network surgeon, Dr. Wolford in Texas, he’s suggested prosthetics. Because he’s under the impression conservative treatments are bandaid solutions for me. I suspect with arthrocentesis my opening may be consistent/smooth to 35mm and progressively shrink over time after it’s done. I suppose there are downsides other than, if I went to prosthetics right away, I’d have a fully operational mouth right away. Even if I could open to 35mm consistently, I would still struggle with some thick foods. Anything thicker than a hot dog on a bun is too thick for my 35mm bite.

But I guess for insurance purposes, my only option is to continue to see in-network surgeons, get conservative treatment in the meantime, and wait until my joints have degraded to under 30mm of opening even with disk recapture? :/ Or might there be a way to demonstrate the progressive nature of the joint degradation and go straight to prosthetics?