Living with jaw pain, clicking, locking or a bite that does not meet properly can wear you down, affecting how you eat, speak and sleep. At Elanic Hospital in Glasgow, Consultant Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon Mr Moorthy Halsnad diagnoses and treats jaw joint (TMJ) problems and jaw alignment, with fast access to imaging and surgery under one roof, so you can finally get clear answers and lasting relief.
Mr Moorthy Halsnad (FRCS (OMFS) MBChB MRCS FFDRCSI MDS BDS) is a Consultant Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon at the Regional Maxillofacial Unit, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow. Holding both medical and dental degrees, he has NHS sub-specialty interests in TMJ, craniofacial and facial deformity surgery. He trained with leading maxillofacial units in London, North Wales, Swansea and Cambridge before taking up consultant posts in Scotland.
Treatment for jaw and TMJ concerns may help patients experience:
Before any procedure, your consultant reviews your symptoms alongside your imaging results to confirm the cause of your jaw or joint dysfunction. This helps determine whether surgery is appropriate and which approach is likely to work best.
You'll be given an anaesthetic suited to your procedure. Minor interventions may only need a local anaesthetic, while more involved jaw correction typically requires a general anaesthetic. Your surgeon then makes a precise, carefully placed incision, often inside the mouth, to access the jaw or joint.
Your surgeon may reposition the jawbone, repair the joint, or address damaged tissue within it, depending on your diagnosis. Once the correction is complete, the incision is closed and you're moved to recovery for monitoring before discharge.
Answered by Mr Moorthy Halsnad, Consultant Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
What is the difference between jaw pain and a TMJ disorder?
Will I definitely need surgery?
Can stress make TMJ symptoms worse?
What happens if a TMJ disorder is left untreated?
Do I need braces before corrective jaw surgery?
What are the risks of jaw or TMJ surgery?
How long does the operation take?
When can I eat normally again?
Occasional jaw ache after chewing something tough is normal and settles on its own. A TMJ disorder causes symptoms that keep coming back, such as clicking, locking or pain that does not ease with rest. If it has lasted more than a few weeks, it is worth an assessment.
No. Most of my TMJ patients improve with non-surgical treatment. I only recommend surgery when those measures have not worked or when the problem is structural, such as a severely displaced disc, advanced arthritis or a misaligned jaw.
Yes. Stress often leads to clenching and grinding, especially at night, which overloads the joint and muscles. Managing stress and wearing a night splint are often part of my treatment plans.
Some cases settle by themselves. Others worsen, with more pain, restricted opening and wear on the joint or teeth. An early assessment lets me find the cause and treat it before it progresses.
Usually, yes. Orthognathic surgery works best as a team approach: braces align the teeth before surgery, I reposition the jaws, and an orthodontist fine-tunes the bite afterwards.
General risks include infection, bleeding and swelling. Specific risks include temporary numbness of the lip, chin or tongue, temporary weakness of facial movement after open joint surgery, and changes to the bite. I will explain each risk as it applies to your procedure before you decide.
Arthrocentesis takes under an hour. Orthognathic surgery on both jaws can take three to four hours. I will give you a precise estimate once your plan is agreed.
After joint procedures, most people return to normal food within one to two weeks.
