FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
From what to expect during the procedure to commonly asked questions, we’re here to help you feel informed and confident every step of the way. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, our team is just a call away!
Before any treatment commences, patients undergo a thorough examination, including x-rays and MRI's to assess their oral health and determine the best course of action. Dr. Gallagher works closely with your dental team throughout the treatment process to ensure optimal results.
Prior to surgery, patients receive extensive preoperative education to understand what to expect and how to manage post-surgery care effectively. Multiple consultations are conducted to address any concerns and ensure patients feel confident about the procedure.
In addition to the information you will personally receive prior to your surgery date, you can find general preoperative instructions here and information regarding anesthesia here
Patients are encouraged to ask any questions they may have, as the dental team is dedicated to providing support and guidance throughout the process. When you are fully informed about the aspects of your care, you and your dental team can make the decision to proceed with treatment together.
TMJ surgery is a tailored approach to address specific disorders affecting the jaw joints. There are various types of TMJ surgeries available, tailored to the specific needs of the patient. If both TMJs require surgery, they can be operated on simultaneously to address issues on both sides.
Surgery Duration
Unilateral TMJ Surgery (One Jaw Joint): Approximately 1 hour
Bilateral TMJ Surgery (Both Jaw Joints): Around 2 hours
Orthognathic Surgery: Typically takes 2-4 hours, depending on the complexity
The procedure is usually performed at an outpatient surgery center. It is rarely done in a hospital setting.
No Overnight Stay: Patients are generally discharged the same day, so an overnight stay is not required.
TMJ surgery must be performed before any orthognathic (jaw) surgery. Stabilizing the TMJs is crucial for the accuracy of subsequent jaw surgeries, as stable TMJs are essential for the proper positioning of jaw bones.
Post-surgery, the focus is on becoming active quickly and adhering to a soft diet for proper healing, with a gradual return to normal activities and diet. Stabilizing the TMJs is a critical first step before any jaw surgery, ensuring successful outcomes and accurate bone positioning.
Most individuals can return to work or school within a week after TMJ surgery. For jaw surgery, the recovery period varies but typically ranges from 7 to 10 days, depending on the specific procedures and individual circumstances.
Soft Diet: Patients will need to adhere to a soft diet for about 3 months post-surgery to allow proper healing of the ligament tissues in the joints and jaw. View Blog
Gradual Progression: After this period, the diet will be slowly transitioned back to regular foods
We highly encourage every patient follow the post-surgery instructions provided by Dr. Gallagher's office.
Before any treatment commences, patients undergo a thorough examination, including x-rays and MRI's to assess their oral health and determine the best course of action. Dr. Gallagher works closely with your dental team throughout the treatment process to ensure optimal results.
Prior to surgery, patients receive extensive preoperative education to understand what to expect and how to manage post-surgery care effectively. Multiple consultations are conducted to address any concerns and ensure patients feel confident about the procedure.
In addition to the information you will personally receive prior to your surgery date, you can find general preoperative instructions here and information regarding anesthesia here
Patients are encouraged to ask any questions they may have, as the dental team is dedicated to providing support and guidance throughout the process. When you are fully informed about the aspects of your care, you and your dental team can make the decision to proceed with treatment together.
TMJ surgery is a tailored approach to address specific disorders affecting the jaw joints. There are various types of TMJ surgeries available, tailored to the specific needs of the patient. If both TMJs require surgery, they can be operated on simultaneously to address issues on both sides.
Surgery Duration
Unilateral TMJ Surgery (One Jaw Joint): Approximately 1 hour
Bilateral TMJ Surgery (Both Jaw Joints): Around 2 hours
Orthognathic Surgery: Typically takes 2-4 hours, depending on the complexity
The procedure is usually performed at an outpatient surgery center. It is rarely done in a hospital setting.
No Overnight Stay: Patients are generally discharged the same day, so an overnight stay is not required.
TMJ surgery must be performed before any orthognathic (jaw) surgery. Stabilizing the TMJs is crucial for the accuracy of subsequent jaw surgeries, as stable TMJs are essential for the proper positioning of jaw bones.
Post-surgery, the focus is on becoming active quickly and adhering to a soft diet for proper healing, with a gradual return to normal activities and diet. Stabilizing the TMJs is a critical first step before any jaw surgery, ensuring successful outcomes and accurate bone positioning.
Most individuals can return to work or school within a week after TMJ surgery. For jaw surgery, the recovery period varies but typically ranges from 7 to 10 days, depending on the specific procedures and individual circumstances.
Soft Diet: Patients will need to adhere to a soft diet for about 3 months post-surgery to allow proper healing of the ligament tissues in the joints and jaw. View Blog
Gradual Progression: After this period, the diet will be slowly transitioned back to regular foods
We highly encourage every patient follow the post-surgery instructions provided by Dr. Gallagher's office.
Before any treatment commences, patients undergo a thorough examination, including x-rays and MRI's to assess their oral health and determine the best course of action. Dr. Gallagher works closely with your dental team throughout the treatment process to ensure optimal results.
Prior to surgery, patients receive extensive preoperative education to understand what to expect and how to manage post-surgery care effectively. Multiple consultations are conducted to address any concerns and ensure patients feel confident about the procedure.
In addition to the information you will personally receive prior to your surgery date, you can find general preoperative instructions here and information regarding anesthesia here
Patients are encouraged to ask any questions they may have, as the dental team is dedicated to providing support and guidance throughout the process. When you are fully informed about the aspects of your care, you and your dental team can make the decision to proceed with treatment together.
TMJ surgery is a tailored approach to address specific disorders affecting the jaw joints. There are various types of TMJ surgeries available, tailored to the specific needs of the patient. If both TMJs require surgery, they can be operated on simultaneously to address issues on both sides.
Surgery Duration
Unilateral TMJ Surgery (One Jaw Joint): Approximately 1 hour
Bilateral TMJ Surgery (Both Jaw Joints): Around 2 hours
Orthognathic Surgery: Typically takes 2-4 hours, depending on the complexity
The procedure is usually performed at an outpatient surgery center. It is rarely done in a hospital setting.
No Overnight Stay: Patients are generally discharged the same day, so an overnight stay is not required.
TMJ surgery must be performed before any orthognathic (jaw) surgery. Stabilizing the TMJs is crucial for the accuracy of subsequent jaw surgeries, as stable TMJs are essential for the proper positioning of jaw bones.
Post-surgery, the focus is on becoming active quickly and adhering to a soft diet for proper healing, with a gradual return to normal activities and diet. Stabilizing the TMJs is a critical first step before any jaw surgery, ensuring successful outcomes and accurate bone positioning.
Most individuals can return to work or school within a week after TMJ surgery. For jaw surgery, the recovery period varies but typically ranges from 7 to 10 days, depending on the specific procedures and individual circumstances.
Soft Diet: Patients will need to adhere to a soft diet for about 3 months post-surgery to allow proper healing of the ligament tissues in the joints and jaw. View Blog
Gradual Progression: After this period, the diet will be slowly transitioned back to regular foods
We highly encourage every patient follow the post-surgery instructions provided by Dr. Gallagher's office.
Before any treatment commences, patients undergo a thorough examination, including x-rays and MRI's to assess their oral health and determine the best course of action. Dr. Gallagher works closely with your dental team throughout the treatment process to ensure optimal results.
Prior to surgery, patients receive extensive preoperative education to understand what to expect and how to manage post-surgery care effectively. Multiple consultations are conducted to address any concerns and ensure patients feel confident about the procedure.
In addition to the information you will personally receive prior to your surgery date, you can find general preoperative instructions here and information regarding anesthesia here
Patients are encouraged to ask any questions they may have, as the dental team is dedicated to providing support and guidance throughout the process. When you are fully informed about the aspects of your care, you and your dental team can make the decision to proceed with treatment together.
TMJ surgery is a tailored approach to address specific disorders affecting the jaw joints. There are various types of TMJ surgeries available, tailored to the specific needs of the patient. If both TMJs require surgery, they can be operated on simultaneously to address issues on both sides.
Surgery Duration
Unilateral TMJ Surgery (One Jaw Joint): Approximately 1 hour
Bilateral TMJ Surgery (Both Jaw Joints): Around 2 hours
Orthognathic Surgery: Typically takes 2-4 hours, depending on the complexity
The procedure is usually performed at an outpatient surgery center. It is rarely done in a hospital setting.
No Overnight Stay: Patients are generally discharged the same day, so an overnight stay is not required.
TMJ surgery must be performed before any orthognathic (jaw) surgery. Stabilizing the TMJs is crucial for the accuracy of subsequent jaw surgeries, as stable TMJs are essential for the proper positioning of jaw bones.
Post-surgery, the focus is on becoming active quickly and adhering to a soft diet for proper healing, with a gradual return to normal activities and diet. Stabilizing the TMJs is a critical first step before any jaw surgery, ensuring successful outcomes and accurate bone positioning.
Most individuals can return to work or school within a week after TMJ surgery. For jaw surgery, the recovery period varies but typically ranges from 7 to 10 days, depending on the specific procedures and individual circumstances.
Soft Diet: Patients will need to adhere to a soft diet for about 3 months post-surgery to allow proper healing of the ligament tissues in the joints and jaw. View Blog
Gradual Progression: After this period, the diet will be slowly transitioned back to regular foods
We highly encourage every patient follow the post-surgery instructions provided by Dr. Gallagher's office.
Before any treatment commences, patients undergo a thorough examination, including x-rays and MRI's to assess their oral health and determine the best course of action. Dr. Gallagher works closely with your dental team throughout the treatment process to ensure optimal results.
Prior to surgery, patients receive extensive preoperative education to understand what to expect and how to manage post-surgery care effectively. Multiple consultations are conducted to address any concerns and ensure patients feel confident about the procedure.
In addition to the information you will personally receive prior to your surgery date, you can find general preoperative instructions here and information regarding anesthesia here
Patients are encouraged to ask any questions they may have, as the dental team is dedicated to providing support and guidance throughout the process. When you are fully informed about the aspects of your care, you and your dental team can make the decision to proceed with treatment together.
TMJ surgery is a tailored approach to address specific disorders affecting the jaw joints. There are various types of TMJ surgeries available, tailored to the specific needs of the patient. If both TMJs require surgery, they can be operated on simultaneously to address issues on both sides.
Surgery Duration
Unilateral TMJ Surgery (One Jaw Joint): Approximately 1 hour
Bilateral TMJ Surgery (Both Jaw Joints): Around 2 hours
Orthognathic Surgery: Typically takes 2-4 hours, depending on the complexity
The procedure is usually performed at an outpatient surgery center. It is rarely done in a hospital setting.
No Overnight Stay: Patients are generally discharged the same day, so an overnight stay is not required.
TMJ surgery must be performed before any orthognathic (jaw) surgery. Stabilizing the TMJs is crucial for the accuracy of subsequent jaw surgeries, as stable TMJs are essential for the proper positioning of jaw bones.
Post-surgery, the focus is on becoming active quickly and adhering to a soft diet for proper healing, with a gradual return to normal activities and diet. Stabilizing the TMJs is a critical first step before any jaw surgery, ensuring successful outcomes and accurate bone positioning.
Most individuals can return to work or school within a week after TMJ surgery. For jaw surgery, the recovery period varies but typically ranges from 7 to 10 days, depending on the specific procedures and individual circumstances.
Soft Diet: Patients will need to adhere to a soft diet for about 3 months post-surgery to allow proper healing of the ligament tissues in the joints and jaw. View Blog
Gradual Progression: After this period, the diet will be slowly transitioned back to regular foods
We highly encourage every patient follow the post-surgery instructions provided by Dr. Gallagher's office.
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