“Can I have surgery to fix TMJ?”
I am 31 years old, and have a TMJ problem. Can I have surgery to fix TMJ? Is it effective?
11 Answers
Typically, you would undergo non-surgical management first since that has a high likelihood of resolving the symptoms. Only if that failed (unless a VERY unusual diagnosis) would you then explore surgical options.
Surgical treatment of a TMJ disorder in today's world is uncommon. I have treated thousands of TMJ disorders for more than 30 years and I see less than 1% of the patients that will require TMJ surgery. The comfortable functional outcomes of TMJ surgeries is very poor and should be only a last resort.
You are in pain. Being unfamiliar with your case and not knowing what you have had done makes it difficult to offer advice. TMJ surgery may not give you the results you are expecting. Ultimately, you are the one suffering and it is your decision.
Probably not. Surgery is rarely performed in only the most severely damaged TMJ joints. Avoid chewing gum, don’t open wide, eat a soft food diet, use warm to hot moist heat compresses and massage to joints when they hurt and Advil or Alene with food as directed when symptomatic.
Depending on an evaluation by a TMJ specialist and the results, he/she can advise what is needed.
Yes, I recommend it while you are still young. It might be a surgery and no one goes happy to the fellow surgeon, but on the other side, if it is really needed and you heard that from at least 2 people, go for it!
You need to see an oral surgeon. Get the surgeon to go over what will be done on a day before you will have your surgeon do the operation.
Why are you asking to have surgery before you exhaust all your other options, to help you manage your TMJ problem? First of all, how did you get your condition diagnosed? Is it self-diagnosed or a dentist-recommended surgery? Your TMJ problem could be because your teeth are not aligned correctly and your bite needs improvements. Maybe braces or Invisalign would be needed. Maybe you clench your teeth. You may be able to check if a muscle relaxant is needed. In moderate to severe cases, a Medrol dose pack, a course of steroids, for five days may help alleviate the immediate need for pain relief. Sometimes an occlusal mouth guard fabricated in the dental office by a good dentist would help you out to make it feel better. It's not a cure, but it certainly is worth giving a try! I would leave surgery for the last option!
I would recommend to look for GNM Doctors in your area for a 2nd opinion! Check out the Occlusion Connection website.
Try conventional treatment first before surgical intervention
Some TMJ problems can be corrected with surgery. I would make sure that you have gotten 2 or 3 opinions and tried conservative therapies before undergoing the surgery.
Rich
Rich
