Jaw pain, lockjaw, headaches, migraines, and other aches and pains are all common symptoms of TMJ disorder. These issues can be extremely uncomfortable and interfere with your quality of life. You should seek professional treatment as soon as possible! In most cases, TMD can be addressed via conservative, noninvasive therapies. In some cases, though, surgical intervention is necessary. What can you expect from TMJ surgery? This blog post shares some important information.
Treatment Planning
Each case of TMD is unique, so your care team will learn all they can about your condition before they decide on the details of your treatment. The first thing they will do is determine whether or not surgery is really necessary. It might be right for you if:
- Conservative treatments have proven ineffective or insufficient.
- Your pain is interfering with your daily life.
- You cannot completely close or open your mouth.
- You have certain diseases or structural problems within your jaw joints (your TMJs).
The Surgical Process
There are a number of different surgical procedures that may be used to address TMD. For example, you might need:
- Lysis and lavage. Essentially, this involves flushing out the joint to improve mobility.
- Arthroscopic arthroplasty. This minimally invasive procedure can be used both to explore the joint and return a displaced disc to its proper position.
- Open joint reconstructive surgery. This is a more invasive option that involves smoothing out the joint’s surfaces, removing diseased tissue, and more.
- Condylotomy. This can be used to stabilize the jaw joints.
Your surgical team will choose the most conservative option that is appropriate for your situation. Whichever surgery you undergo, you can expect to feel little to nothing during the procedure thanks to anesthesia and sedation.
Recovery
The recovery experience after TMJ surgery depends on your health, the details of your procedure, and more. You may need to get plenty of rest, eat a modified diet, and stick to other post-op instructions. Most people are feeling better within a few days to a few weeks. As you heal, you should notice improvements in how your jaw functions and feels.
It is understandable if you are nervous about undergoing TMJ surgery. But as long as you have a trustworthy surgical team, there is very little chance that something will go wrong. Hopefully, you will soon have a healthy and functional jaw!
Meet the Practice
The board-certified oral surgeons at Piney Point Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery are well-qualified to perform a broad range of complex procedures, including TMJ surgery. If you have been struggling with severe jaw pain or other symptoms of TMD, our team would be happy to guide you on your next steps. Contact our Houston office at 713-783-5560.