Hi, I have suffered from TMJ pain for about 4 years. I have tried various methods (night guard, soft foods, massage, etc) with no success. I have made an appointment with a mouth doctor. I have a weak/small chin, but not a terrible underbite (jaw wise). I have been considering a Chin implant ever since I discovered it's possible. For TMJ, I understand open jaw surgery is last resort but also that it restructures the jaw and might give me a better chin? Is it wrong to think of open jaw surgery as killing 2 birds with one stone?
January 19, 2010
Answer: Jaw surgery vs implant for chin improvement While I perform both bony surgery to improve the chin, as well as implants, I generally favor implant surgery. A chin implant is a short, out-patient surgical procedure with few complications. Cutting the chin bone itself is a much bigger operation which I would hesitate to recommend, unless there was no alternative. As a plastic surgeon with both a medical and dental degree, I have performed many operations on the jaws to move the bones, including the jaws and chin, but surgery on your jaw may not improve your TMJ problems and you should consider that fact in your decision. My gut reaction in looking at your photo would be to opt for a chin implant. If you did a chin implant, you are not burning any bridges, and could still do jaw/chin surgery at a later date. To simulate what it might look like, I frequently inject sterile water into the patient's chin and you can immediately look at it in the mirror.
Helpful
January 19, 2010
Answer: Jaw surgery vs implant for chin improvement While I perform both bony surgery to improve the chin, as well as implants, I generally favor implant surgery. A chin implant is a short, out-patient surgical procedure with few complications. Cutting the chin bone itself is a much bigger operation which I would hesitate to recommend, unless there was no alternative. As a plastic surgeon with both a medical and dental degree, I have performed many operations on the jaws to move the bones, including the jaws and chin, but surgery on your jaw may not improve your TMJ problems and you should consider that fact in your decision. My gut reaction in looking at your photo would be to opt for a chin implant. If you did a chin implant, you are not burning any bridges, and could still do jaw/chin surgery at a later date. To simulate what it might look like, I frequently inject sterile water into the patient's chin and you can immediately look at it in the mirror.
Helpful
January 18, 2010
Answer: TMJ surgery and chin and neck contours In many instances jaw surgery can accomplish both goals. However, traditionally these are different surgical proceduress. TMj surgery typically does not improve chin projection whereas a SSO for malocclusion or sliding genioplasty can definitively achieve chin enlargement. The use of submental liposuction can enhance the result as well.
Helpful
January 18, 2010
Answer: TMJ surgery and chin and neck contours In many instances jaw surgery can accomplish both goals. However, traditionally these are different surgical proceduress. TMj surgery typically does not improve chin projection whereas a SSO for malocclusion or sliding genioplasty can definitively achieve chin enlargement. The use of submental liposuction can enhance the result as well.
Helpful