02/18/2026
***Dr. Barker’s Before/After Photos for Expansion Orthodontia 😬 !***
If you saw me between December of 2020 to January of 2026, then you have seen me at some point along my expansion orthodontia journey.
So many people have asked me why I decided to do braces in my 30’s. Well, it wasn’t because I wanted straighter teeth, even though I got that too, but it was because I had daily jaw pain for over a year and a half amongst other TMJ disorder related symptoms like clenching, popping/clicking, headaches, ear fullness/pain, neck pain and more. Most of these symptoms started or got significantly worse after getting a crown done in mid 2019.
Now, on the other side of this journey, I wanted to share with you some before and after photos and some of the benefits from going through this process.
-Was it hard?
Yes, and a very long process (just over 5 years in my case) and I shed blood, sweat and tears along the way with stabbing wires, broken brackets, crown’s falling off and more.
-Was it worth it?
Yes, 100%! All of my TMJ related symptoms are either gone or significantly reduced.
-What have I learned?
I have learned so much throughout this process. Many of my patients suffer with TMJ disorder and I can now better relate to them and help them get better. I discovered that the dental chair is one of the best training grounds to practice letting go of emotions in real time (there was definitely a lot of letting go)! We will all go through challenging times during our lives that may last days, weeks, years or longer. It is common for us to think, when this challenge is over, then I will be happy. When one set of challenges finally comes to an end, we still have one or more open ended challenges we are still waiting on to be happy. We may find ourselves continually punting our happiness further and further down the road until we finally get to a point and look back on our lives and realize how much time we have waisted waiting to be happy. Early on in this journey, I had an experience that helped me to understand that if I allow my happiness to be dependent on external circumstances, there will always be a reason to be unhappy. Instead, if we choose happiness, we can be more in control of our emotional state regardless of what is happening outside of us.
-How much did my palate expand?
Approximately 3.5 mm
-How much did my airway improve?
Total airway volume increased from 15.4 to 25.18 cm^2
A huge shoutout and thank you to TMJ Plus Wellness Center: Becky Coats, DDS and her team! In addition to helping me with my TMJ disorder symptoms, I have had the privilege of collaborating with Dr. Becky Coats in helping hundreds of other patients suffering with similar symptoms to get relief.
If you are suffering with TMJ symptoms, neck pain, or headaches, then give my office a call for a consultation at 817-912-1436.
Serving the DFW and Midland/Odessa areas.
