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Degenerative and Inflammatory Joint Disease |
¨ In some cases pain is severe and not controlled by restorative and pharmaceutical approaches¨ As a short term measure it may be viable to irrigate the joint, and instil a short acting steroid e.g. hydrocortisone to reduce inflammation.¨ Repeat use of depot steroid preparations can cause significant bone resorption and is therefore best avoided¨ There is good evidence that degenerative disease affecting the TMJ tends to have a limited period of activity, after which it tends to resolve¨ If however there is severe bone change with roughened irregular surfaces preventing simple joint movement, an operation to smooth surfaces or to interpose a soft tissue flap between bone ends can be justified
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