“Do I need surgery for TMJ?”
I am a 39 year old male. I have TMJ. Do I need surgery for TMJ?
4 Answers
Surgery is rarely required to manage the symptoms ofTMD (temporomandiular disorders). Seek treatment with a dentist, prosthodontist, oral surgeon, or possibly orthodontist. Best to start with your dentist first. Lots of alternatives to surgery.
Sometimes TMJ symptoms will indicate a problem within the joint that would require surgery to correct, but those are a much lower percentage of patients overall. Typically, you would need to exhaust the non-surgical options before considering that level of treatment.
Not all TMJ diseases require surgery, some just need therapy. Seek treatment by an Oral & Maxillofacial surgeon, he/she will give you the treatment of choice depending on the type of TMJ problem that you have. Good luck
I have treated TMJ disorders for more than 30 years. Less than 1% of my patients have needed TMJ surgery, and should only be a last resort after treatment by a competent TMJ dentist. Check out The American academy of Craniofacial Pain.
