The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the hinge joint that articulates between the lower jaw and the skull base. TMJ surgery can be undertaken either arthroscopically or via an open joint procedure and is used to treat a wide variety of pathological conditions including inflammatory and degenerative joint disease, ankylosis, trauma, tumors (benign and malignant) and major congenital deformity. The advent of virtual surgical planning and excellent, reliable total joint replacement prostheses has revolutionized the world of alloplastic reconstruction of the TMJ by delivering stable, long-term clinical outcomes. The effective management of TMJ disease is also important to achieving stable results in patients undergoing orthognathic (jaw deformity) surgery and the "marriage" of these two disciplines provides the ability to accomplish real change and significant benefits for the patients that we treat . Although fellowship training is not currently a mandatory requirement for the practice of TMJ surgery, there is an increasing view that the development of one year fellowship programs should be actively encouraged for those trainees wishing to advance their skills in this important sub-specialty area of interest.
Dr. Shawn Matthews, TMJ Surgeon, FRCS (Eng.) (Associate Professor of OMFS, University of North Carolina, US)
Dr. Shawn Matthews, TMJ Surgeon, FRCS (Eng.) (Associate Professor of OMFS, University of North Carolina, US)