Dr. Anup Muduli is an oral and maxillofacial

surgeon in private practice at Ramapo Oral

& Maxillofacial Surgery. Dr. Anup Muduli

also works on staff at Valley Hospital,

Chilton Memorial, and Saint Joseph’s

Regional Medical Center, where he treats

severe temporomandibular joint disorders

and performs other maxillofacial and oral

surgeries.

Patients suffering from pain, tenderness, or a clicking or locking in the jaw joint may be diagnosed with a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. Although in many cases these disorders can be treated with nonsurgical solutions, surgery may be required in severe cases. TMJ disorders with severe, chronic, or debilitating pain may be associated with degenerative or rheumatoid arthritis, or could be caused by anterior disc displacement.

When surgery is required, there are three common options: arthroscopy, open joint surgery, or arthrocentesis. For disc suturing, scar tissue removal, or inflammation, arthroscopy is commonly selected. Open joint surgery is used when doctors need to access deteriorated bone structures or tumors. Oral surgeons opt for arthrocentesisto alter the positioning of the joint hinge disc, in order to dislodge tissue that is fused together.