Business Spotlight
YOUR ORAL
SURGEON For Every Facial Emergency by Steve Gamel
A
s a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. John Shillingburg has heard it repeatedly where patients will come in with jaw pain and say, “I think I have TMJ.” In reality, everyone has TMJ, or a jaw joint — two to be exact. The correct terminology is Temporamandibular Disorer, or TMD, which can range from mild discomfort to headaches and severe popping and clicking in the jaw that makes it difficult for someone to open their mouth or even chew certain foods.
Regardless of the confusion between TMJ and TMD, those patients have come to the right place. The Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) is one of the most complex joints in the body, and if you’re experiencing any pain in this area, Dr. Shillingburg and his team at DFW Oral Surgeons in Flower Mound want to help.
or a seven to a one or a two. If someone
tells you, ‘I’m going to completely get rid of your TMD,’ then that’s someone you need to avoid.”
“I always tell patients that I’d prefer to see them first for a thorough evaluation,” Dr. Shillingburg said. “If there are no major abnormalities or anything like that, then your TMD can be managed conservatively. The goal of the treatment is not to eradicate someone’s
pain. It’s to help someone know what the triggers are and take their pain from a six
out tumors or anything else that would
necessitate surgical intervention. If none of those issues exist, Dr. Shillingburg
has close relationships with dentists in the area who can get you fitted with a
professionally made TMJ night guard. “Patients will work with the dentist in a
conservative manner,” Dr. Shillingburg
said. “In rare cases where their symptoms
You don’t have to worry about anything with Dr. Shillingburg. He is trained
If someone tells you, ‘I’m going to completely get rid of your TMD,’ then that’s someone you need to avoid.”
X-rays, and a thorough evaluation to rule
and credentialed in
dentoalveolar surgery,
facial cosmetic surgery,
do not improve, the patient would
come back to me. Depending on their
situation, we would look at other options, including a joint flush out or a total joint
replacement in extremely rare instances.”
implant surgery,
Dr. Shillingburg’s facility is a true
facial reconstructive
treating any mouth and jaw condition.
orthognathic surgery, oral surgery, and dental anesthesiology. This allows him to treat
everything from a simple
tooth extraction to replacing every tooth in a patient’s mouth.
A quick visit to DFW Oral for your TMD
symptoms includes a CT scan, MRI, other
outpatient surgery center capable of
When you have an emergency, there’s no
reason to go anywhere else because DFW Oral Surgeons is equipped for it all. Dr. Shillingburg is proud to serve
the residents in and around Argyle,
Bartonville, Highland Village, Lantana, Double Oak, South Denton, Denton County, and surrounding areas.
972.539.1491 | www.dfworalsurgeons.com | 4421 Long Prairie Rd., Ste. 100 • Flower Mound, TX 75028 www.FlowerMoundMagzine.com
OCTOBER 2020 | FLOWER MOUND TOWN LIFE | 37
