While surgery can be an option for correcting temporomandibular joint disorders, more commonly known as TMJ disorders, most cases of TMJ can be resolved with less invasive means. The most frequent symptoms of TMJ disorders include:

1. Pain or discomfort in the area around the jaw, especially near the jaw joints on either side
2. Radiating pain or discomfort that extends to the neck, the ear, and elsewhere in the head.
3. Challenges in chewing
4. Difficulty fully opening or closing the jaw, which may feel locked in place

In many cases, symptoms of TMJ disorders resolve with simple interventions that focus on relieving pressure or stress on the jaw, relaxing the muscles around the temporomandibular joints, and reducing stressors or other outside factors that can exacerbate TMJ disorders. In other cases, more complex or invasive treatments, like surgery, may be needed, especially if other approaches have failed. Surgery is often the preferred approach for TMJ disorders caused by structural issues with the jaw joint itself, rather than those that primarily affect the musculature or nerves. There are many different treatment approaches used to address TMJ disorders, though each approach depends on the cause and severity of symptoms.

Some of the more common causes of TMJ disorders are:

1. Jaw injury, including dislocation and breaks
2. Bruxism, which is the chronic clenching of the jaw and grinding of the teeth
3. Arthritis
4. Stress or general tension
5. Issues with bite alignment

If the jawbone itself is injured, or if the joint is naturally misaligned or compromised by arthritis, jaw surgery may be used to repair or reposition the joint or replace the joint itself when more conservative approaches fail. Sometimes, pain or discomfort caused by minor structural issues, like mild arthritis, can be managed with over-the-counter pain medications or less invasive treatments.

Surgery may be recommended in the following conditions:

1. When less invasive treatments stop working over time
2. Patients with a chronic inability to eat, speak, or drink properly
3. Patients with relentless jaw pain that doesn’t respond to medication
4. Patients who can’t fully open or close their mouths

For TMJ disorders that result from bruxism, the most common remedy is the use of a mouthguard, which prevents the upper and lower rows of teeth from making contact and therefore reduces the often-excessive pressure of this unconscious habit. As the muscles surrounding the jaw joints relax, TMJ symptoms are reduced or entirely eliminated. When occlusion, or bite misalignment, leads to TMJ disorders, the best remedy is to correct the bite, which can almost always be done without surgical intervention, using invisible aligners, braces, or other orthodontic devices.

Solving TMJ disorders exacerbated by stress can be more challenging, as treatment approaches often revolve around reducing or eliminating the stressors; this is easier in some cases than in others. In situations where stressors cannot be removed, patients often find relief from TMJ disorders by using massage, meditation, yoga, acupuncture, or other alternative methods that help relax the muscles and the mind. Many people also find relief from the symptoms of TMJ disorder by using acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications to manage pain, or by using muscle relaxants or antidepressants to reduce stress and relax the jaw. Only your dentist can determine the cause of your TMJ disorder, using x-rays and other imaging to evaluate the entire structure of the jaw joint and all its tissues, and you can trust that they won’t recommend surgery unless it’s absolutely necessary to resolve your symptoms.

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