Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons care for patients with problem wisdom teeth, facial pain, and misaligned jaws. They treat accident victims suffering facial injuries, place dental implants, care for patients with oral cancer, tumors and cysts of the jaws, and perform facial cosmetic surgery.
Exam
Patients will be required to obtain X-Ray or CT images for the initial consultation for the doctor to evaluate and explain diagnosis and discuss treatment options. Occasionally an MRI will be ordered.
Treatment
Surgery is sometimes done to repair or reconstruct the joints when more conservative treatment has failed to improve comfort and function. While rarely needed, surgery can be performed to eliminate debris that accumulated in the joint, to repair damaged tissues and to even replace entire joints, similar to the replacement of other joints like knees, hips and shoulders.
Cost
$20,000-$50,000
Results and Research
Conclusion Overall, 50% of patients seemed to view arthroscopy favorably although many patients still felt that jaw opening was restricted. The outcome was not related to the position and reducibility of the disc at surgery and other variables may be responsible. The disparity between the clinical evaluation and the patients’ perception of effectiveness emphasizes the importance of patient feedback. — TMD disorders: A patients’ and clinicians’ perception of the outcome of temporomandibular joint arthroscopy
Clinical evaluation of patients with failed TMJ implants.
“Most patients responded quickly with conservative treatment methods.” — Oral surgery: Patients referred to a specialist clinic because of suspected temporomandibular disorders: a survey of 3194 patients in respect of diagnoses, treatments, and treatment outcome