Arthrocentesis

This procedure is essentially a gentle washout of the jaw joint. The provider places a small needle into the joint space and gently flushes it with sterile fluid, washing out inflammation, removing debris, and releasing pressure within the joint. The goal is to help your jaw move better, decrease pain, and improve symptoms like locking or limited opening — in many cases it can also free a joint that feels stuck. This procedure is commonly recommended for patients who have: • Jaw pain • Limited mouth opening • Jaw locking or catching • Clicking or popping with pain • Inflammation inside the joint • Symptoms that have not improved with conservative treatment like medications, splints, or physical therapy The goals of the procedure are to: • Reduce pain and inflammation • Improve jaw movement • Decrease pressure inside the joint • Help restore more normal function Most patients experience soreness for a few days afterward, but recovery is usually much easier than open joint surgery. You may still need physical therapy, jaw exercises, a TMJ splint, or additional treatment afterward to maintain improvement. What makes our treatment different is that we may also use PRF (Platelet-Rich Fibrin). PRF is created using a small sample of your own blood, which is spun down to concentrate natural healing cells and growth factors. This material can then be placed into the joint to help support healing, reduce inflammation, and improve recovery. Because it comes from your own body, it is considered very safe and biocompatible.