The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is vital in daily activities such as eating, talking, and yawning. When this joint becomes misaligned, it can lead to TMJ disorder. This problem can make your jaw feel stiff, hard to move, and painful.

Modern technology offers many ways to treat TMJ disorders. Unfortunately, some patients don’t find relief. For these patients, TMJ surgery may be the only option.

What Is TMJ Disorder?

A TMJ disorder is a complex ailment that affects the jaw joints and surrounding muscles and ligaments. It’s important to note that there isn’t one cause for these problems; instead, a combination of several factors causes TMJ disorder, making it a multifaceted issue.

This condition may be caused by:

• Bruxism (teeth grinding or clenching)
• Jaw injuries
• Arthritis in the jaw joint
• Stress
• Misaligned teeth

Patients with a TMJ disorder may experience a range of complications, including limited chewing function and chronic pain.

Common TMJ Disorder Symptoms

The symptoms of TMJ disorder vary greatly. However, the most common symptoms include:

• Jaw and facial pain
• Shoulder or neck pain
• Jaw stiffness
• Jaw popping or clicking
• Difficulty opening and closing your mouth
• Migraines or headaches
• Earaches

Some patients with TMJ disorders experience a change in how their teeth fit together.

Who Should Look Into TMJ Surgery?

Surgical treatment may be necessary for anyone whose life is disrupted by the pain associated with the condition. Your dentist may try less invasive treatment before surgery, like TMJ exercises or a mouth guard. However, the following situations indicate the need for surgical treatment:

• Regular, intense pain in your jaw
• Inability to open and close your mouth because of the pain
• Chewing is impossible because you cannot open and close your mouth
• The pain in your jaw gets increasingly worse
• Your jaw is misaligned because of an injury

Discussing your case with your dentist will help determine whether surgery is best for your condition.

Types of TMJ Surgery

Three primary types of TMJ surgery are available to treat the condition. Sedation dentistry may be an option for your treatment.

Arthrocentesis

As the least invasive procedure, arthrocentesis has a relatively simple recovery period. Most people heal within a day or two. This procedure is often completed under local or intravenous (IV) sedation.

Arthroscopic

As another option for a minimally invasive procedure, your dentist can perform arthroscopic surgery in the office. It’s more involved than arthrocentesis, meaning the recovery period is longer.

Arthroplasty

Arthroplasty is most often performed under general anesthesia in a hospital and may require an overnight stay. Depending on the extent of the treatment, the recovery period ranges from two to six weeks.

Learn More About TMJ Disorders and Treat Your Condition

TMJ disorder surgery doesn’t guarantee that the problem will disappear forever. Most dentists recommend it as a last resort to preserve the normal joint structure.

If you’re still experiencing symptoms after trying home treatments, such as rest and wearing a mouthguard at night, you may need surgical intervention. Contact Pinnacle Dentistry to learn how we can treat TMJ disorders and alleviate your pain. Call us today!