Temporomandibular joint disorder, abbreviated as TMJ, is a common problem affecting most people, particularly ages 20 to 40. Some people experience chronic pain and discomfort from TMJ, and others experience temporary symptoms like clicking or popping noises in their jaw, especially when chewing hard foods. Surgery may be an option if you suffer from severe TMJ symptoms that do not respond well to non-surgical treatments such as medications, splints, or braces. If you are uncertain about the severity of your symptoms, consult a TMJ Treatment Jasper specialist for a thorough physical examination. Learn more about the five types of TMJ surgical treatments that can permanently alleviate your pain.
- Mandibular Fusion
A mandibular fusion is a procedure that stabilizes the jawbone. It involves drilling into the jawbone and placing a metal plate over it. This procedure can prevent further damage to your TMJ, leading to pain and discomfort.
Fusions are not cures for TMJ pain. However, they can help alleviate symptoms like clicking noises or soreness when chewing something hard that can cause strain on your mouth muscles. Talk with your dentist before considering this surgical procedure to confirm your eligibility.
- Arthrocentesis
Arthrocentesis is a procedure that involves inserting a needle into the joint space of your jaw. The goal is to inject fluid into the joint and relieve pain. Your doctor will typically perform this procedure overnight because it takes time for the medication to be absorbed into your system and affect your TMJs.
Arthrocentesis can reduce your TMJ pain and regain your jaw’s range of motion. Since it is a minimally invasive procedure, you can go home immediately after treatment. Also, the recovery process is short, and the success rates are higher than in other TMJ surgeries.
- Arthroplasty
Arthroplasty is a surgical procedure that replaces damaged joint surfaces with artificial materials. This procedure can relieve TMJ pain and correct jaw deformities caused by injury or disease. During the procedure, your doctor inserts a cannula into your joint muscle after administering anesthesia.
After the cannula is positioned, they insert an arthroscope and begin operating on your joint. The arthroscopic procedure can allow your doctor to perform several other complex procedures, such as joint reshaping and scar tissue removal.
- Surgical Joint Repositioning
Surgical joint repositioning is a procedure that can help relieve pain in your jaw, TMJ, and other joints. It Is used to correct misalignment of the mandible and lower jaw. It also helps to realign the jaw bones, which can help reduce tension on nerves inside your mouth.
Surgical joint repositioning can also correct overbite or crossbite issues that might be causing your TMJ pain. Since joint repositioning is major surgery, it might take longer to recover compared to other TMJ surgeries.
- Total Joint Replacement
Total joint replacement is a surgical procedure that replaces the joint with an artificial joint. The prosthetic implant is held in place by metal screws and can be made of titanium or cobalt-chromium alloys. This type of TMJ treatment may be more invasive than other options, but it is also usually less painful and has fewer complications than other TMJ treatments.
Untreated TMJ can be detrimental to your oral health. It can lead to teeth loss, chronic grinding, and clenching and minimize your natural aesthetic beauty. If you are still experiencing pain after trying other TMJ conservative treatments, consider other more effective surgical methods to help you get long-term relief. Through your doctor, you can improve your condition and minimize further damage to your TMJ.
