When you have strain and discomfort in your jaw, this could cause TMJ disorder, also known as TMD. You could also be vulnerable to chronic teeth grinding, known as bruxism. But our team can offer relief with a surprising solution. In today’s blog, your Shrewsbury, MA, dentist talks about treating TMJ pain with Botox, and how this can bring relief that lasts for months to come.
Jaw Joint Strain and TMJ Disorder
When the joints connecting our jaw and skull become strained, this could place enormous pressure on the smile and cause TMJ disorder. When TMD develops, you could have trouble fully opening and closing your mouth, and also develop a host of uncomfortable symptoms, such as headaches, migraines, jaw pain, facial aches, and aches in the neck and shoulders. A popping or clicking sensation in the jaw could occur too. The disorder could also be linked to bruxism, or chronic teeth grinding, which causes discomfort but could also wear down and weaken teeth to cause tooth decay and infection.
The Benefits of Botox
If you experience one or more of the potential symptoms we listed above, then contact our team for a diagnosis. We will carefully examine your smile with digital x-rays and intraoral cameras, and look for signs of wear and friction on the teeth too. We then make a diagnosis with precision, and choose the most appropriate treatment plan. With Botox, we will administer the botulism toxin to the strained areas of your face, which interrupts the signals telling the muscles to tense. These ease tension so you can avoid TMD-related symptoms and enjoy relief. The effects last for several months and can be re-administered during a checkup. We also combine this with oral appliance therapy, in which we use a custom mouthguard to gently reposition the jaw and avoid TMD symptoms and strain.
The Cosmetic Benefits
While Botox can be used to fight TMJ disorder and bruxism, this also offers benefits for facial beauty too, as you could see fine lines and wrinkles disappear for the months to come until your next examination. If you have any questions about how we diagnose issues like TMJ disorder and bruxism, or if you have persistent discomfort that needs treatment, we hope you will reach out to our team to talk about potential treatments. Don’t live with discomfort and poor oral health, let’s make 2024 the year you improve the health, beauty, and function of your smile.
Schedule Your Next Appointment Today
Our team wants to help you avoid the complications and discomfort of TMD treatment, with injectable treatments and even custom mouthguards. We can help you find relief and enjoy good oral health as a result. To find out more about our treatments for TMD and bruxism, call our Shrewsbury/Grafton, MA area dental office at 508-842-8838.
