TMJ(temporomandibular joint)

Your safety and comfort is our priority

What is the TMJ?

The TMJ (temporomandibular joint) is the joint that connects your lower jaw (mandible) to your skull—specifically at the temporal bone, located just in front of each ear. It's one of the most complex and frequently used joints in your body, allowing you to:

Open and close your mouth
Chew
Speak
Yawn
Move your jaw side to side and forward

Issues may include:

Difficulty opening and closing jaw
Lockjaw
Clicking/popping
Bite changes
Pain in TMJ area or jaw muscles.

TMJ Arthrocentesis

We offer TMJ Arthocentesis, a procedure where the joint is flushed out with saline to remove inflammatory fluid, cellular debris, and microscopic scar tissue. You will be under general anesthesia when we irrigate your TMJ.

Simultaneously, we also do Corticosteroid injections, Botox injections, PRP injections, depending on the specific issue.

Corticosteroid injections: Reduces inflammation in the joint
Botox injections: Relaxes overactive jaw muscles
PRP injections: Stimulates healing and reduces joint pain (regenerative therapy)

TMJ Arthroplasty

TMJ Arthroplasty is a procedure that reshapes the articular surface of the TMJ that experiences movement and friction. It is for severe TMJ pain, ankylosis(TMJ stiffness), or general degeneration of the joint. The goal is to preserve joint anatomy while restoring a functional, pain-free joint by improving movement and reducing mechanical problems inside the temporomandibular joint.

The surgeon makes an incision to directly access the TMJ, where they will remove damaged tissue, bone spurs, adhesions, and/or scar tissue. It can also involve placing grafts or artificial materials to improve joint function.

TMJ Disc Repositioning

The TMJ disc is a small cushion of cartilage that sits between the jawbone (mandible) and the skull (temporal bone), allowing smooth movement. The disc can become displaced (often moving forward), leading to pain, clicking, locking, or restricted jaw movement.

Disc repositioning surgery involves surgically moving this disc back into its normal position within the joint. It is typically done through an incision near the ear, where the surgeon repositions the disc and sometimes secures it with sutures, anchors, or other fixation methods to hold it in place.

Once entry into the TMJ is made, scar tissue or adhesions holding the disc in the wrong position are carefully released. when the TMJ is properly aligned, the disc is sutured to the posterior capsule or directly anchored to bone to hold it in place. Sometimes, small suture anchors or mini-screws are used for stability.

TMJ Replacement

TMJ replacement is a surgical procedure used to treat severe, end-stage temporomandibular joint disorders when other treatments (medications, splints, minimally invasive procedures, or previous surgeries) have failed. It involves removing the diseased joint and replacing it with an artificial prosthesis. This is considered for ankylosis(joint stiffness), osteoarthritis, congenital deformities, or failed previous TMJ surgeries.

Once entry into the TMJ is made, scar tissue are removed. Then, we resect the diseased condyle and possibly part of the glenoid fossa using a piezoelectric hand piece. After sufficient bone has been removed, we place trial components to check fit, occlusion, and range of motion. Custom-made prosthetics may be made based on severity. We finish by checking range of motion of the mandible, confirming occlusion(good bite), irrigating the surgical site, and suturing the site closed.