TMJ Joint Replacement

Do I need a Joint replacement?

TMJ Joint replacement is reserved for those who have not responded well to the more conservative surgical interventions like arthroscopy.

The TMJ is truly bone on bone with little or no disk remaining. When this goes on long enough the TMJ will be fused together with the jaw fused to the skull. This prevents any function at all fo the joint. 

What is the surgery like?

TMJ Joint replacement is done in the hospital. The surgery is about 2 hours per side. Most surgeons elect to observe you in the hospital for 1 or 2 days after surgery before you go home. 

What is the recovery like?

Patients do quite well with TMJ joint replacement. Joint replacement has come a long way in the last 20 years. The joints are constructed custom for each patient based on CT scans. You can expect to recover function really well. Most patients return to normal function after. The goal of the surgery is to restore patients back to the normal function. Most patients enjoy vast improvements in pain as well. Pain improvement is more unpredictable however.