Current concepts in the surgical management of temporomandibular joint disorders.

A thorough understanding of the structure and function of diarthrodial joints is necessary for clinicians who treat individuals with temporomandibular disorders. Surgical procedures must be based on principles designed to restore and preserve joint physiology. The surgical management of patients with temporomandibular joint disorders not only requires adherence to surgical principles that make sense from a physiologic basis, but also an understanding of the disease process and continued nonsurgical management that is aimed at reducing or eliminating factors which perpetuate joint overloading.