When is tmj surgery needed

Temporomandibular joint TMJ disorder surgery can reduce pain and improve jaw functioning. However, doctors use this treatment as a last resort because there is a lack of research on its safety and effectiveness. TMJ disorders are a group of conditions that cause pain in the joints and muscles that control the jaw.

The TMJ connects the jaw to the skull and allows it to open and close. Surgery can repair or replace parts of the jaw to treat TMJ disorders. Researchers have not yet confirmed the long-term safety and effectiveness of surgery on the muscles and joints in the jaw.

Therefore, doctors may first recommend conservative, noninvasive treatments, such as pain relievers or jaw exercises. This article discusses different types of TMJ disorder surgery and some of the other treatment options. It makes this recommendation because there have been no long-term clinical trials to evaluate the long-term effectiveness and safety of TMJ-related surgical procedures, which are often irreversible.

It is possible that they may cause more damage and pain to the jaw. Anyone interested in undergoing surgery should discuss the best options with their doctor, who can provide personalized advice. The duration of recovery will depend on the severity of the condition and the procedure that a person undergoes.

The TMJ Association recommends not rushing the recovery process, as doing so can cause further damage to the jaw. List of Partners vendors. Temporomandibular joint disorder TMJ surgery is performed to correct the group of painful jaw conditions it's named after.

The joint that causes the problem is the one that joins your jaw bone to your skull. Because of the complexity of the temporomandibular joint, which has hinging and sliding motions, TMJ disorders can be challenging to treat or correct.

There are several different types of TMJ surgery, which range from minimally invasive outpatient surgeries to more complicated open-joint surgeries that require a hospital stay.

Your healthcare provider or dentist will advise against surgery if your TMJ responds well to at-home treatment or other non-surgical options. Talk to your surgeon to understand the risks related to your condition. Complications can be more extensive with open joint surgeries than with minimally invasive surgeries. Before undergoing TMJ surgery, get multiple opinions from other healthcare providers to understand the risks and potential benefits.

Complications related to TMJ surgery include:. Joint replacement, the most extensive type of TMJ surgery, can lead to significant complications for some people. Some artificial implants may not function correctly or can break apart in the jaw over time. More long-term clinical studies are needed to assess the safety of these surgeries, which are often irreversible. TMJ disorders cause pain and decreased range of motion when you move your jaw. They may also cause a painful clicking or grating sound in the jaw joint while opening or closing your mouth.

The goals of TMJ surgery are to reduce pain and enable normal jaw function. Surgery may be considered for a jaw condition such as:. There are some known causes of TMJ, although in many cases the cause is unknown. Some examples include autoimmune diseases, injuries to the jaw, and having your mouth open for a long time, such as during a dental procedure or when a breathing tube is inserted before surgery. Once TMJ is diagnosed—via examination of the head, neck, face, and jaw; a review of symptoms like pain that occurs when chewing; and imaging tests like X-rays, computed tomography CT scans, or magnetic resonance imaging MRI —your healthcare provider or dentist will likely advise you to first try non-surgical treatments.

This may include reducing stress, gentle jaw stretching exercises, applying ice or moist heat, eating soft foods, and avoiding big jaw movements when chewing gum or wide yawning.

Your healthcare provider may also suggest over-the-counter pain medications, such as Tylenol acetaminophen or Advil ibuprofen. Oral devices, such as a stabilization splint or bite guard may be used to help relieve pressure and pain in your jaw. Surgery is only considered if these have been tried and have failed to provide relief.

Ask your healthcare provider any questions you have before the surgery. They can talk to you about the steps of your surgery and how you can expect to feel after the procedure. Make sure to have ice packs on hand and fill any prescriptions before the surgery. Arthrocentesis can be done as an in-office procedure, with your healthcare provider placing hyperdermic needles into your joint without general anesthesia.

General anesthesia administration must be done in a hospital. An arthroscopy is performed in an outpatient facility in a hospital or surgical center.

An open-joint surgery such as an arthrotomy or a joint replacement is performed in a hospital. Wear loose, comfortable clothing to your surgery.

Check with your surgeon to get specific recommendations in your case. Talk to your surgeon about your current medications before the surgery. They will likely advise you to stop taking medications that can cause increased bleeding, including Coumadin warfarin , aspirin, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs.

Your jaw is misaligned due to any injury, latest dental surgery or due to any other reason. When other oral and therapy methods to treat TMJ fail, your doctor can suggest you for surgical procedures. Arthrocentesis: This is the process in which a fluid is inserted through the needles into the joint to remove inflammatory by-products and debris. This is the minimally invasive and less painful procedure to treat TMJ disorder. In such kind of surgery, a small and thin tube is placed in the joint space, a small kind of device is used to insert an arthroscope.

As compared to the open joint surgery, TMJ arthroscopy has low risks and complications. Modified condyloma: This surgery is done on the mandible instead of joint hence it is indirect surgery treatment of TMJ.

But, this surgery is helpful in treating the pain associated with TMJ and locking jaws. Disc repositioning: This is a more complex procedure than the previous ones. As the name suggests your doctor will put the disc back at the right place and then stitches it. You might need to stay at the hospital for a few days in this procedure. Surgery is typically reserved for the most severe cases of TMJ disorders, however, and most patients find that their symptoms respond to the more conservative measures.

If the TMJ issues are caused by a malocclusion, or misaligned bite, surgery can reposition the jaws to correct the bite. This often relieves symptoms caused by TMJ disorders at the same time.

Jaws that are severely degraded, locked in place or dislocated may also need surgical interventions.