Complete details of such procedures will always be provided by the oral and maxillofacial surgeon involved, however, sometimes it is difficult to spend the adequate time to provide the detailed information needed. Hopefully, this sheet will help, but please contact Dr. Thompson if you require further information.

1. Post surgery scar:
IVRO incisions are made inside the mouth.
• For a ’scope, the scar left by our highly skilled and experienced surgeons is almost invisible and is placed in a natural skin fold just in front of the ear. Please ask if you would like to see a photograph of this.
• Please check with your surgeon, as it is usual practice to “flush” the joint out with a specific artificial joint fluid after the scope to achieve the best and longest acting results. This may involve a small extra (non-MSI related) fee. This can be discussed with your surgeon or Dr. Thompson.

2. Pre and Post operative care for ’scopes & IVRO procedures:
• It is vital that for these surgical procedures, you discuss with Dr. Thompson the unavoidable need (usually) for bite planes of specific design and purpose and bite adjustments etc. Without these minimal and conservative therapies, your surgical result is highly compromised.
• You may also require TMJ related physical therapy which may include infrared laser and pulsed radiofrequency. Other therapies may also be required on a case-by-case basis.

3. “Braces”:
• Not needed for ‘scope.
• Usually (but not always) needed for IVRO to control the bite and prevent unwanted tooth movement by surgical wires (almost unavoidable without “braces”).