TMJ Surgery from the Experts
Your temporomandibular joints are some of the most complex in your body, allowing you to move your jaw in virtually any direction. If these joints are not functioning properly (TMJ disorder), you can experience chronic facial pain, popping, clicking, and difficulty with everyday movements like eating, speaking and yawning. To treat your debilitating symptoms, our oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Billy Laun, offers comprehensive TMJ treatment, including TMJ surgery in Carbondale, IL.
Signs of TMJ Disorder
- Facial and jaw pain
- Jaw aching or discomfort
- Pain around ears
- Difficulty eating
- Popping or clicking
- Locking of the TM joint
Choose the TMJ Specialists
Due to the complexity of the temporomandibular joints and their relation to the function of the mouth, only a trained specialist should be completing your treatment. TMJ surgery requires meticulous planning that reflects the unique symptoms of each patient to effectively treat TMJ disorder and restore comfortable function to the jaw and joints. Oral surgeons have years of advanced training outside of dental school, making them the only recognized specialists who focus solely on diagnosing and treating problems with the jaws, mouth, teeth, and joints. They have the expertise to provide both surgical and non-surgical treatments for a comprehensive range of mild to severe cases of TMJ disorder as well as licensing to offer full office-based anesthesia services to ensure your comfort. As one of their specialties, TMJ treatment from our experienced surgeon is comprehensive and personalized, with predictable and lasting results.
Our Personalized TMJ Treatment
We begin every TMJ treatment process with a personalized consultation. It’s critical to understand your unique anatomy and symptoms to develop a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. You will first undergo a clinical examination as well as a cone beam CT scan, so we can assess the TMJ discs and surrounding tissues and determine if TMJ surgery is needed or if we can take a more conservative approach. Our TMJ treatments include:
Anti-inflammatory medication can help temporarily reduce jaw pain and inflammation of the temporomandibular joints.
Muscle relaxers like Flexeril work effectively to block sensations of pain in the jaw and temporomandibular joints along with helping to reduce the frequency of muscle spasms.
BOTOX injected into the jaw muscles and other muscles of the face can provide relief from joint tenderness and pain during everyday movements.
TMJ pain can result from chronic teeth grinding and clenching. A custom night guard worn during sleep keeps the teeth from touching. This allows the jaws, joints, and muscles to relax and rebalance to relieve discomfort during the day.
Arthrocentesis is a minimally invasive treatment which involves injecting a sterile solution into the affected joint to flush the space. After arthrocentesis, other medication, such as corticosteroids or lubricants, may be injected.
Arthroscopy is a more complex procedure in which a tiny fiber optic camera is inserted through a small incision near the ear. The images are projected to a video monitor, allowing the oral surgeon to remove excess tissue and realign or suture the cushioning discs.
Arthroplasty is the most complex treatment, an open-joint surgery completed through an incision along the ear. As this procedure is usually done at a hospital under general anesthesia, arthroplasty is typically reserved for patients with structural problems in the joint.
Stop living with jaw pain and start living.
Schedule your consultation for TMJ treatment today.
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1111 E. Walnut St Suite B
Carbondale, IL 62901
New Patient Number: 618-300-5078
Current Patient Number: 618-529-2571
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