Gainesville, Georgia (November 4, 2014) – Some estimates suggest that Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorders affect more than 10 million Americans today, making it the second most common cause of facial pain after toothache. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons like Fred H. Simonton, DMD, of Gainesville Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery help relieve the pain and discomfort brought on by this condition through a specialized surgery. What sets his procedure apart is the cutting-edge bone anchor that he uses to support the joint, which he helped earn FDA approval this month.
The temporomandibular joint, more commonly known as the TMJ, is a hinge that connects the lower jaw to the skull, and enables your mouth to open, close and move side-to-side smoothly. Some people experience pain in this joint and the surrounding muscles, or have difficulty chewing, causing a condition known as TMJ disorder, which is much more common than people think.
As an experienced oral surgeon and TMJ Specialist, Dr. Simonton has treated a number of patients suffering from this condition, and recently shared his expertise at The American Society of Temporomandibular Surgeons (ASTMJS).
“I was using another type of anchor for some time but discovered the impressive capabilities of the Biomet Sports Medicine JuggerKnot™ Soft Anchor, so I made the switch and saw excellent results,” said Dr. Simonton. “At the time, I was the only doctor in the United States using the JuggerKnot™, but since the introduction, other surgeons are now using the JuggerKnot™ for TMJ surgery.”
Dr. Simonton shared these results at the 2013 ASTMJS Meeting in a presentation entitled, “Introduction of a New TMJ Meniscal Plication Device,” which covered the use of bone anchors in TMJ surgery and the benefits of using the JuggerKnot™ Soft Anchor over typical metal anchors.
As compared to original bone anchors, which were developed for use in orthopedic surgery procedures such as rotator cuff repair, bicep tendon reattachment and hand surgery, improved bone anchors offer far superior support and comfort.
“The newer bone anchors are non-metallic, preventing radiographic distortion and making them hypoallergenic for patients with metal allergies,” said Dr. Simonton. “They also provide much better results for patients since they have a higher pullout strength and require less bone removal.”
Since Dr. Simonton’s presentation at the ASTMJS Meeting, oral surgeons and TMJ specialists worldwide have started using the now FDA-approved JuggerKnot™ Soft Anchor to provide better outcomes for TMJ surgery patients.
For more information about Dr. Fred Simonton, visit his Gainesville Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery practice website at www.oralsurgeryofgainesville.com or his Oconee County Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery practice website at www.athens-clarke-oconee-oralsurgery.com.
About Fred H. Simonton III, DMD
Dr. Fred Simonton is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon and TMJ specialist, offering outstanding services for orthognathic (corrective jaw) surgery, wisdom teeth extraction, dental implant placement, as well as TMJ related treatments. Dr. Simonton serves as an adjunct assistant professor of surgery at Emory University School of Medicine and received board certification from the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in 1990. He maintains professional memberships of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the American Society of Temporomandibular Joint Surgeons, among others. He served as the president of the Georgia Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, he is an honorable fellow of the Georgia Dental Association, and he is appointed on the hospital staff of the Gainesville Surgery Center and the Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, Ga.