Considering total temporomandibular joint replacement

Patients with very advanced degenerative disease, ankylosis, post-traumatic condylar destruction, and multi-operated patients may be candidates for joint replacement with fossa and condylar prostheses. Great advances have been made in developing biocompatible materials, improved designs for patient-fitted prostheses. These devices have treated internal derangement cases after multiple surgical and nonsurgical treatment failures, as well as restoring form and function following the removal of failed Vitek Proplast-Teflon (Houston, Texas) containing temporomandibular joint implants. This paper will provide practitioners dealing with complex, debilitated, functionless temporomandibular joint (TMJ) patients with information related to this treatment modality. They will then be able to address the indications for the use of alloplastic temporomandibular joint replacement devices, the devices presently available, the surgery involved in their placement, possible complications of implantation and post-operative outcomes and expectations with patients who would benefit from the implantation of these devices.