Jaw joint arthroscopy (Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthroscopy)

What is jaw joint arthroscopy?

The jaw joint, in front of each ear, is called the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). It lets you open, close and move your jaw. Some people develop jaw joint problems (sometimes called TMD) causing pain, clicking, locking or limited opening. Most settle with simple measures such as rest, soft diet, jaw exercises, painkillers and a bite splint.

Jaw joint arthroscopy is a keyhole procedure used for some people whose problems have not settled. A fine telescope (an arthroscope) is passed into the small space inside the joint through a tiny puncture near the ear. The surgeon can look inside, wash the joint out to remove inflammatory debris (often called arthrocentesis), release minor sticking, and sometimes carry out small treatments.

It is usually offered as a step between simpler, non-surgical care and bigger open jaw joint surgery. It is not a first treatment and it is not a cure-all: it can help pain and jaw opening for some people, but results vary and symptoms can return.

Arthroscopy looks inside and treats the joint space itself. It does not change a bite problem, treat teeth grinding, or fix problems coming from the muscles rather than the joint, which need different care.

Types, options & approaches

There may be different ways to do this. The right approach depends on the clinical question and your circumstances.

Keyhole arthroscopy vs open jaw joint surgery

Both come after simpler, non-surgical treatments have been tried. Open surgery is usually reserved for problems that keyhole treatment cannot address. Your surgeon will explain why one is suggested for you.

Preparing for your procedure

• See the oral and maxillofacial surgeon to confirm the problem is coming from the joint itself and that simpler treatments have genuinely been tried.
• Ask what the procedure is expected to achieve for you, and what it cannot change (such as bite problems or muscle pain).
• Tell the team about all medicines, especially blood thinners, and any bleeding tendencies.
• Follow fasting instructions for the general anaesthetic and arrange a lift home, as you should not drive that day.
• Plan a few days off and have soft, cool foods and recommended painkillers ready at home.
• Continue any jaw exercises or splint use as advised before and after the procedure.

What happens

The procedure is usually done under a general anaesthetic, so you are asleep. The surgeon makes one or two tiny punctures in the skin just in front of the ear to reach the small space inside the jaw joint.

Sterile fluid is run through the joint to wash out inflammatory debris. A fine telescope lets the surgeon look inside, and small instruments may be used to release minor sticking or treat the lining. Medication is sometimes placed in the joint at the end.

The whole procedure usually takes about 30–60 minutes. The punctures are very small and usually need only a small dressing or a single stitch. Most people go home the same day once they have recovered from the anaesthetic, with advice on jaw movement, diet and painkillers.

Is this procedure right for me?

A good consultation should explore whether it's the right choice for you now — including reasons to wait or consider something else.

Before you decide

Use this as a shared-decision checklist. The aim is not just “can this be done?”, but whether it is right for you, now, with the risks and alternatives clearly understood.

Comfort, sedation or contrast choices

If local anaesthetic, sedation, contrast or pain relief is used, ask what is planned, why, and what it means afterwards.

The most important specific risks come from how close the joint sits to the facial nerve, the nerves that give feeling to the face, and the ear canal. Pain, swelling, bruising, bleeding and infection can all occur, and numbness of the face or altered hearing is possible — usually temporary, but very occasionally lasting. Ask your surgeon what improvement is realistic for you, how likely symptoms are to return, and what the plan is if the procedure does not help.

Published figures to discuss

Reliable numerical complication rates for jaw joint arthroscopy vary with the exact procedure and how it is reported. The most important risks reflect how close the joint sits to the facial nerve, the nerves that give feeling to the face, and the ear canal. How much arthroscopy helps also varies between people and depends on the underlying problem.

These are literature figures, not a personalised prediction. Your own risks and likely benefits depend on your circumstances, your health, and how your care is carried out and followed up.

What happens afterwards

Recovery from jaw joint arthroscopy is usually quicker than open surgery — many people are back to normal activities within a few days to a week, though the jaw may feel sore, puffy and stiff for a while.

• Soreness, puffiness and bruising around the joint and ear for several days
• Jaw stiffness and limited opening that eases over the following weeks
• A blocked-ear feeling or mild altered hearing that usually settles
• Tenderness at the tiny puncture sites that fades as they heal
• Gradual rather than instant improvement in pain or opening

Aftercare

• Eat soft, cool foods and avoid hard or chewy foods while the joint settles.
• Use cool packs and keep your head raised early on to ease swelling.
• Take painkillers as advised and avoid wide yawning or biting in the first days.
• Do the jaw exercises your team recommends to regain movement.
• Keep the puncture sites clean and dry as instructed until healed.
• Avoid strenuous activity for a few days, and do not drive on the day of a general anaesthetic.
• Continue any bite splint or other treatment your surgeon advises.
• Know the signs of infection and who to contact if you are worried.

• Soft, cool foods and drinks ready at home
• Recommended painkillers in stock
• Cool packs for swelling
• A lift home arranged for the day of the general anaesthetic
• A few days off work booked
• Any jaw exercises or splint instructions understood
• The clinic's contact number saved for problems

Scars and how they heal

Because this is keyhole surgery, the punctures in front of the ear are very small and usually heal to leave little or no visible mark over a few months. There is no large cut on the face. If a single stitch is used, it is removed or dissolves as the puncture heals.

⚠ Get urgent help if…

• Spreading redness, heat, swelling or pus around the joint or ear (possible infection)
• A high temperature or feeling generally unwell after the procedure
• Bleeding from the puncture site that does not stop with gentle pressure
• New or worsening weakness of one side of the face
• Sudden or lasting change in hearing, or severe ear pain
• Severe pain or inability to open or close the jaw at all
• Difficulty swallowing or breathing (seek urgent help)

Who to contact: your clinician, clinic or test provider first (keep their number to hand). For urgent advice when you can't reach them, call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.

General guidance — it doesn't replace the specific advice your specialist gives you.

Results & realistic expectations

For some people, jaw joint arthroscopy reduces pain and improves how far the jaw opens, particularly when the joint has been locking or sticking. Because it is keyhole surgery, recovery is usually quicker than open surgery.

Results vary from person to person, the benefit is judged over weeks rather than days, and symptoms can return. It treats the joint space itself, so it will not correct a bite problem, stop teeth grinding or settle pain that is mainly coming from the muscles. A good surgeon is honest about what arthroscopy can and cannot do for you and has a plan if it does not help.

Some people get lasting relief after jaw joint arthroscopy, while others find symptoms return over months or years, sometimes needing further treatment such as more exercises, a splint, repeat arthroscopy or, occasionally, open surgery. How long the benefit lasts depends on the underlying problem, ongoing habits such as clenching, and how well the joint and muscles are looked after afterwards.

Related tests, treatments or support

Arthroscopy is often combined with a joint wash-out (arthrocentesis) and sometimes an injection of medication into the joint. It is usually part of a wider plan that also includes jaw exercises, a bite splint, painkillers and advice on habits such as clenching, rather than a stand-alone fix.

Follow-up & long-term care

You will usually be reviewed after the procedure to check healing, jaw movement and symptoms, and to guide exercises. You should be told who to contact for problems such as infection, persistent pain or altered hearing, and what the next step would be if the procedure does not give enough benefit.

• Keep up any jaw exercises your team recommends.
• Use a bite splint if advised, especially if you clench or grind.
• Stick to softer foods during flare-ups and avoid very hard or chewy foods.
• Manage habits such as clenching, and seek help early if symptoms return.

Repeat, follow-on and what comes next

• Some people need a repeat arthroscopy or wash-out if symptoms return.
• If keyhole treatment is not enough, open jaw joint surgery may be discussed.
• Ongoing exercises, a splint or other non-surgical care are often still needed afterwards.
• Persistent numbness or altered hearing occasionally needs specialist review.

Ask what happens if the result is unclear or needs repeating, and what is included if further tests or follow-up are needed.

What good aftercare looks like

• Clear advice on soft diet, jaw movement, painkillers and warning signs, with a named contact.
• A plan for jaw exercises or physiotherapy to regain movement.
• Review of symptoms and jaw opening over the following weeks.
• An honest plan for what happens if symptoms persist or return.
• Monitoring of any facial numbness or altered hearing until it settles.

What affects the cost

Costs vary a great deal between people and providers, and we don't publish prices. What matters is understanding what drives the cost and making sure your quote is complete. The main things that affect it:

• Whether the procedure is a wash-out alone or includes operative arthroscopy
• Whether one or both jaw joints are treated
• The general anaesthetic and theatre or facility fees
• Any scans (such as MRI of the joint) needed to plan treatment
• The surgeon's fee and follow-up appointments
• Any physiotherapy, splint or further treatment afterwards

• The surgeon's fee and what the procedure covers
• The general anaesthetic and theatre or facility fees
• Any imaging (such as MRI) needed beforehand
• Whether one or both joints are included
• Follow-up appointments and any physiotherapy or splint
• The cancellation policy
• What happens, and who pays, if symptoms return or further treatment is needed

On the NHS? Jaw joint arthroscopy is available on the NHS when simpler treatments have not worked and local criteria are met; private care may be used for speed or choice but follows the same stepped approach.

You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including reports, follow-up and what happens if the result is inconclusive — before you decide.

Consent traps and marketing red flags

These are not small details. They are often where patients lose choice, time to reflect, or realistic expectations.

Choosing a specialist safely

• Check the specialist is on the GMC Specialist Register for this area.
• Make sure they work at a CQC-registered service, and look for membership of the relevant Royal College or professional body.
• You're entitled to time to consider and to have your questions answered before you agree — the specialist who looks after you should explain it, not a salesperson.
• Be wary of pressure: time-limited offers or deposits taken before you've had time to think are red flags, not bargains.
• You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including any follow-up — before you decide.

How Vuemedics verifies every consultant →

Take this to your consultation. A good specialist will welcome every one of these.

• Is my pain coming from the joint itself, the muscles, or my bite — and will arthroscopy actually help that?
• What improvement in pain and jaw opening is realistic for me?
• How likely are my symptoms to return, and what would the next step be?
• What is my personal risk of numbness or altered hearing?
• Have all the simpler treatments been properly tried first?
• What exercises or splint will I need afterwards?
• Are you on the GMC Specialist Register for this area, and which Royal College or professional body are you a member of?
• Will you be the specialist who carries out my procedure, and who looks after me afterwards?
• What are the risks for someone like me, and how often do your own patients have a problem or need it repeated or redone?
• What does a realistic result look like — and what can this procedure not achieve?
• What are my options, including waiting, doing nothing for now, or choosing a different approach?
• Can I have written information, results and aftercare instructions in a format I can use, including any accessibility or communication support I need?
• What is the total cost in writing, including any follow-ups, and how much time do I have to decide?

Find a verified specialist for jaw joint arthroscopy

Every consultant is GMC-checked and independently reviewed. Search by postcode and distance, or switch to a map. Ordered by rating, relevance and recency — never by who pays.

How we made this page

Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant. Written in plain English, checked against NHS, NICE, GMC and relevant Royal College / specialist-society guidance, and kept under review. No clinic paid to appear on this page, and we publish no pricing. This is general information to help you prepare — it is not a substitute for advice from your own clinician. How we review our guides →

Source hierarchy: UK regulator and NHS/NICE guidance first, then relevant Royal College or specialist-society guidance, then peer-reviewed evidence for procedure-specific figures where available.

Sources & standards: BAOMS — TMJ arthroscopy patient information leaflet BAOMS — TMJ arthrocentesis patient information leaflet Royal Free London NHS — TMJ (jaw joint) arthroscopy and arthrocentesis NHS — Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) Commissioning guide: Temporomandibular joint disorders (BAOMS/RCS) Complications of diagnostic TMJ arthroscopy — PMC TMJ arthroscopy patient information — Healthdirect

Reviews reflect patients' experience of care, not clinical outcomes. For procedure volumes and outcome data see PHIN.

Last medically reviewed 2026-09-21. Spotted something wrong or out of date? Report an error in this guide.