| |
Gainesville
1221 Sherwood Park Dr., NE
Gainesville, GA 30501
770-531-1075 » Email Us
|
|
Practice Areas FAQs
What treatments are available for TMJ?
Before discussing treatment for TMJ, Dr. Simonton will first collect a detailed patient history and a physical. The teeth, jaw joints, and muscles will also be carefully assessed. If TMJ is diagnosed early, treatment for TMJ may be simple, self-remedies. In these instances, the doctor’s recommended TMJ treatment might include:
- Resting the muscles and joints by eating soft foods
- Do not chew gum
- Avoid clenching or tensing
- Relax muscles with moist heat
If a joint injury occurs, ice packs should be applied soon after the injury to help reduce swelling. Other doctor recommended treatment for TMJ options include relaxation techniques and stress reduction, patient education, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, or other medications.
If these home remedies fail to provide relief from TMJ pain, TMJ surgery is the next option. By the time TMJ surgery is discussed, most patients have exhausted other therapy options.
TMJ Surgery Patient Evaluation
When evaluating if surgery is the proper treatment for TMJ, we will first obtain an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), which produces detailed and accurate images of the temporomandibular joint and surrounding soft tissue. If the patient appears to be a candidate for TMJ surgery after the MRI is reviewed, a psychological evaluation is required.
Once TMJ surgery is agreed upon, Dr. Simonton will explain the process to the patient. Dr. Simonton prefers to make his incisions for TMJ surgery behind the ear and in the ear canal because it gets the surgeon closer to the TMJ area needing repair. This not only allows for better positioning, it reduces the possibility of complications by moving the incisions away from the facial nerve. Also, with the incision from the TMJ surgery hidden behind the ear, patients won’t have to be concerned that their physical appearance will be altered by surgical scars.
During TMJ surgery, the surgeon shortens stretched ligaments or repairs torn ligaments and pulls the displaced cartilage disc into its correct position. If the patient's wisdom teeth have not been extracted, they will be removed before or during the TMJ surgery to ensure they will not interfere with the surgical repair at a later date.
If you have questions about the types of treatment for TMJ will work best for you, contact Dr. Simonton, located in Gainesville, Georgia just north of Atlanta. We are experienced in diagnosing and treating TMJ.
Related Questions
Back To FAQ's
|
|
 |
| |
© 2005, Dr. Fred H. Simonton, III All rights
reserved.
by: Red Clay Interactive |
|
|
|
