TMJ Surgery and Treatments in Long Island City
Our team provides advanced solutions for jaw joint disorders.
Understanding Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD)
Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a condition where the jaw joints and muscles controlling jaw movement become painful or dysfunctional. It can arise from a variety of causes, though most commonly it stems from stress, jaw injury, arthritis, or habitual teeth grinding. Surgery is not often necessary, but in cases where conservative therapy doesn't seem to help, the team at Gantry Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery is equipped to handle next-level care. By offering highly specialized procedures designed to alleviate pain and restore function, patients suffering from TMD can achieve significant improvement in their quality of life.
TMJ Treatment Options
Botox
As an ultra-dilute toxin famously used in cosmetic treatments to reduce facial wrinkles, Botox also has numerous therapeutic applications. TMD caused by tense muscles around the jaw can often benefit from injections of this medication, which helps soften overactive muscles.
Joint Lavage (Arthrocentesis)
Sometimes TMD symptoms originate from inside the joint itself. In these cases, a joint lavage procedure (also called arthrocentesis) washes out the interior of the joint space. This helps by removing inflammatory substances, breaking up adhesions that may be present, expanding the joint space to promote better movement, and allowing the delivery of pain relieving medications directly into the joint.
Arthroscopy
For more advanced TMJ disease, arthroscopy involves joint lavage combined with the insertion of a small camera into the joint space. This procedure is both therapeutic and diagnostic, allowing a direct view of the interior of the joint to identify and treat any abnormalities. It is typically performed in a hospital operating room under general anesthesia.
Open Joint Surgery
Late-stage TMD with severe physical breakdown of the joint structures usually requires open-joint surgery for improvement. These procedures involve a lengthier recovery period, usually supplemented with physical therapy.
Have questions? We've got answers.
FAQs
How do I know if I have TMD?
TMD symptoms can vary widely but often include jaw pain, difficulty chewing, clicking or popping sounds in the jaw, earaches, and headaches. Some people may also experience a locked jaw or limited range of motion. Often of these symptoms can be confused with wisdom tooth pain or even a salivary gland obstruction, so having a professional assessment is important.
Do I need to treat TMD?
While many cases can resolve on their own with simple home remedies, symptoms lasting longer than a few weeks usually benefit from more advanced therapy. Left untreated, the condition can eventually lead to degenerative changes to the joint structure, with worsening pain and dysfunction.
Can TMD be cured?
Generally, the goal treating TMD symptoms is to manage the condition, rather than to cure it outright. Much like other chronic conditions (think diabetes or asthma), TMD doesn’t lend itself to complete resolution, although reducing the symptoms to a point where they have little or no impact on quality of life can be achieved in many cases.
What about night guards/bite guards?
Your general dentist may recommend a custom appliance (occlusal orthotic), which is a common first-line treatment for TMD. As just one part of a comprehensive approach to treating the condition, they are usually used in tandem with surgical intervention when it's warranted.
How long does Botox for TMD last?
Similar to when Botox is used for cosmetic purposes, you can expect about 3 to 6 months of effectiveness against TMD symptoms. This duration can vary based on your individual response, the severity of the initial symptoms, and the specific muscles treated. As the effects of Botox gradually wear off, additional treatments may be required to maintain symptom relief. However, by softening the muscles and reducing the load on the joint for a period of time, many patients get to a point where further Botox treatments are no longer needed.
Are there side effects to Botox?
Botox actually tends to be very well-tolerated with minimal side effects. A transient headache may occasionally occur on the day of injection, as well as mild pain at the injection sites. Complications are rare, but maybe include unwanted weakness of the nearby muscles, dry mouth, or allergic reactions.
What can I expect with TMJ lavage?
While it might sound intimidating, TMJ lavage is a fairly straightforward procedure. We usually perform it under sedation (with the addition of local anesthesia to keep the area numb), so you can be sure you’ll be very comfortable during and after the process. Afterward, most patients report little to no pain. Some patients might feel temporary soreness, swelling, or stiffness in the treated area, which is easily managed with a few days of over-the-counter pain medication and a softer diet.