Download Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

D I V I S I O N O F O R A L A N D M A X I L L O FA C I A L S U R G E R Y
TMJ
Problems
Certain headaches and pain in
the ear, jaw, neck, tooth, and
sinus can be the result of a
temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
problem. People with TMJ
problems often experience
many of these symptoms. Their
pain may be acute, requiring
immediate treatment, or
chronic, having lasted months
or even years.
TMJ problems may be caused
by joint displacement resulting
from a variety of factors,
including problems with the
patient’s bite, muscle
inflammation, arthritis, or
from an injury to the jaw.
Carle Clinic Association
Identifying the Problem
Diagnosis
When patients are referred to Carle’s Division of
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, the surgeon will
first obtain their medical history. It is important
for the doctor to know whether the patient:
At the conclusion of the consult, the doctor
often finds that the patient suffers from one
of the following:
• suffered an injury to the jaw or joint
• had any developmental problems that may
have affected the growth of the joint
• headaches without an apparent cause
(may be tension, stress, or migraine)
• pain due to inflammation of the muscles
• used orthodontics or braces
• derangement within the joint
(a TMJ problem)
• had any prior surgery or treatment, such as
splint therapy or medical management
• arthritis or degenerative joint disease
(a TMJ problem)
One of our physicians will then examine the
patient to detect any abnormalities of the jaw,
joint, teeth or facial muscles. The physician
also may order x-rays to determine if any bone
changes in the joints have occurred.
Patients who do not have structural joint
problems will be referred to their primary
physician or dentist to look for other causes
of the pain.
Treatment of TMJ
At Carle, the treatment of choice for TMJ is
conservative management. This means that
the TMJ problem is usually handled with:
As with any type of surgery, there are risks associated
with TMJ surgery that will be explained in detail if
surgery is recommended, such as:
• infection
• injury to sensory nerves
• anti-inflammatory agents, such as aspirin
or ibuprofen
• injury to nerves that allow for the movement
of certain muscles in the face
• heat
• anesthesia risks
• soft-food diet
• alteration of the bite
• restriction of movement to allow inflamed
or damaged tissue to heal
Only rarely will TMJ patients be treated with
tranquilizers or muscle relaxants.
Sometimes our physicians require that TMJ patients
have abnormal or poor bites corrected, since a
malocclusion can aggravate the problem. This can
be done with fillings, crowns or caps, partial or full
dentures, splint therapy, or orthodontics to better
align the teeth.
If these techniques are unsuccessful, patients
may need further tests, such as:
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• arthogram – dye is injected into the joint
Outcomes
• arthocentesis – fluid is injected into the joint
• arthoroscopic surgery
Certain conditions may require surgery. However,
before our surgeons will recommend any surgical
procedure, the condition must cause severe pain
and disability, and it must be shown that it cannot
be corrected or resolved without surgery.
Whether the patient is prescribed medication or
a surgical procedure is indicated, the anticipated
and desired outcome will be the same – to allow
him or her to return to normal daily activities
without pain or with a significant reduction
of pain.
Customer Service
Carle’s Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
provides excellent, kind and courteous care to
our patients. We are always eager to hear your
comments and suggestions.
Division of Oral and
Maxillofacial Surgery
The Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
is staffed and equipped to diagnose and treat:
• developmental deformities of the jaw and face
(orthognathic surgery)
• dental disease, including surgical removal of
erupted and impacted teeth and preparation
of the mouth for dentures
• traumatic injuries to the face, including fractures
of the facial bones and/or teeth and injuries to
soft tissue
• disorders of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
• facial reconstruction after injury
• benign and malignant tumors of the face, lip,
tongue, palate and jaws
• implants for dental rehabilitation/reconstruction
• pre-prosthetic surgery, including ridge (jaw)
augmentation, nerve repositioning and skin
grafting
The physicians of the Division of Oral and
Maxillofacial Surgery are on call 24 hours
a day to treat patients with traumatic injuries
to the face.
602 West University Avenue
Urbana, Illinois 61801
(217) 383-3280
CORL1025 6/03
Michael S. Goldwasser, DDS, MD, received his
Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University
of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and later completed
his residency training in Oral and Maxillofacial
Surgery at the University of Iowa, Iowa City. He
received his Doctorate in Medicine at Northwestern
University in Chicago. He is a Diplomate of the
American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
Stephen R. Sabol, DDS, received his Doctor of
Dental Surgery degree from the University of
Colorado, Denver, and completed his residency
training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency
Training Program at Carle Foundation Hospital. He is
a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and
Maxillofacial Surgery.
Jonathan S. Bailey, DMD, MD, received his
Doctor of Dental Medicine degree at Harvard
School of Dental Medicine and his medical degree
at Harvard Medical School, Boston. He completed
a residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, followed
by a two-year fellowship in maxillofacial oncology
and microvascular surgery at the University of
Maryland Medical System, Baltimore. He is a
Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.