What to Except After TMJ Surgery
The Temporomandibular Joints, or TMJ, are the two joints on either side of your lower jawbone that connect your lower jaw to your upper jaw. The TMJ allow for the full range of motion of your jaws. Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD) can affect your joints resulting in chronic pain and difficulty opening and closing your jaws. There are many TMJ treatments that can correct TMD and relieve you of pain. In rare cases, TMJ surgery is needed when other treatments fail to fully correct the cause of TMD.
Neuromuscular dentistry is the field of dentistry that diagnoses and treats TMD. An experienced neuromuscular dentist will examine your TMJ and assess your symptoms. He or she will determine the best treatment plan for you and will only suggest TMJ surgery if absolutely necessary. Most patients with TMD find relief through non-surgical neuromuscular dentistry treatments.
What to do Following Your TMJ Surgery
It is important to schedule a couple of weeks off work for recovery following your TMJ surgery. You will need time to rest for a speedy recovery. Your neuromuscular dentist will prescribe pain medications for the first few days to help control your comfort level and an antibiotic to reduce the risk of an infection. Be sure to take all of your antibiotic medication and contact your dentist if any pain lasts longer than the first few days.
During the first few days of your recovery, you may want to have a close friend or family member help you around the house and to help take care of your children and pets. You will need to rest and avoid performing any chores. The amount of time needed for recovery varies from person to person. Some people need more than a couple of weeks while others need less. Do not push yourself, but slowly return to your daily activities when you feel your strength is back in full. Your neuromuscular dentist can help you determine the right amount of time and will evaluate your progress in your follow up appointment.
You may experience swelling during the first few days of recovery. This is normal and can be eased with applying ice packs to the swollen area on and off for the first 24 hours and then applying moist heat. Your neuromuscular dentist will give you more information about how to control any swelling during your initial consultation about TMJ surgery.
Your neuromuscular dentist will suggest a strict diet of liquids and urge you to drink plenty of water. You will be able to introduce soft foods such as yogurt, scrambled eggs, pudding, and oatmeal after the first couple of weeks. These soft foods will allow you to move your jaw without applying too much pressure and strain on your jaw.
Your neuromuscular dentist will give you an oral therapy mouthpiece to wear several times a day. This mouthpiece will help to slowly increase how wide you can open your jaw. It is important to use this mouthpiece every day so you can open your mouth wider and recover quicker.
Benefits of TMJ Surgery
Patients who choose TMJ surgery enjoy several benefits including:
- Increased range of jaw motion
- Ease of chewing
- Improved speech
- Reduced joint pain
Possible Complications Following TMJ Surgery
The possibility of complications accompanies every surgery and is the case for TMJ surgery. Though rare, it is important to be aware of the possible complications so you know when to contact your neuromuscular dentist.
Possible complications are:
- Facial and joint swelling
- Facial and joint pain
- Dislocation of the TMJ
Complications associated with the ears
Questions and Answers
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