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TMJ Surgery Procedures

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder causes pain and difficulty opening and closing the jaw. A small piece of cartilage---called the disk---pads the area between the ball and socket part of the jaw. The disk can become injured or displaced, causing the bones to become damaged. Surgery for TMJ disorders can range from relatively minor to highly invasive and complex. According the Mayo Clinic, surgery is usually only considered after other treatments have failed.

  1. Disk Repositioning

    • Disk repositioning is a common surgery to realign the cartilage disk inside the TMJ if it has slipped out of place. If you hear the TMJ make a popping sound, the disk may have dislocated. This can cause problems with the ligaments that support your jaw or injury to the joint itself. The nerves that surround the joint can get pinched if the protective disk is not properly positioned, causing severe pain and inflammation.

      Disk repositioning surgery lasts about two hours, says the Mayo Clinic, and requires an overnight stay in the hospital. The surgeon makes a small incision in your jaw and moves the disk back into position, and, if necessary, repair the ligaments.

    Discectomy

    • If the disk in the TMJ continually slips out of place or becomes damaged, you may need a discectomy. A discectomy takes about two hours. Your surgeon will completely remove the cartilage disk, and you will stay in the hospital overnight for observation. Recovery generally takes about two or three weeks, reports the Mayo Clinic. Scar tissue will form to prevent the jaw from grinding together. When the disk is removed, some surrounding tissue containing nerves is also taken, and may significantly reduce TMJ pain.

    Articular Eminance Recontouring

    • Some TMJ patients' symptoms are caused by the socket part of the TMJ---called the articular eminance---being too deep or too steep. This places extra pressure on the ball part of the joint, causing pain and inflammation. If you require an articular eminance recontouring, your surgeon will use special tools to shorten and smooth the articular eminance. This procedure is often done as part of a joint replacement surgery, says the Mayo Clinic.

    TMJ Replacement

    • If your TMJ is damaged beyond repair, your surgeon may suggest a partial or total joint replacement. This is usually a last resort because of the potential risks associated with the procedure, reports the Mayo Clinic. A partial joint replacement is done when only one part of the TMJ needs to be replaced. Your surgeon may harvest bone from your ribs or another part of your body to repair the portion of the joint that is damaged. Metal prosthetics are also often used to replace portions of the TMJ. If you need a total joint replacement, your surgeon will remove the original ball and socket of your TMJ and replace them with metal parts that slide smoothly across each other.

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