If you’ve been diagnosed with TMJ disorder, you’re likely very familiar with jaw pain. TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, which is the hinge-like structure that connects your lower jaw to your skull. While various problems can cause TMJ pain, the symptoms are similar for most people. Often, patients like you experience an ache that affects one or both sides of your jaw. This pain may then spread into your face, causing headaches, neck pain, and even difficulties chewing or opening your mouth. While there is no guaranteed permanent cure for TMJ disorder, many have found effective ways to alleviate symptoms with appropriate treatments and certain lifestyle changes. One such treatment that we offer here at Riviera Dental Care is Botox®! Using this muscle relaxer, we may be able to alleviate pain and tension in your jaw, allowing you to live more comfortably.
What Causes TMJ Disorder?
There are many potential causes of temporomandibular joint disorder, including:
Injury to the jawbone: Suffering trauma or injury to your jaw can damage or disrupt your temporomandibular joint. This may cause swelling, misalignment, and damage to the joint and surrounding tissues, ultimately leading to TMJ disorder.- Arthritis in the joint: Arthritis refers to the inflammation of a joint, resulting in pain, swelling, and stiffness. In your jawbone, arthritis often results in TMJ disorder and other jaw problems that limit your ability to function.
- Grinding of the teeth: Bruxism, or the grinding of teeth, is known to cause damage to both your smile and your jaw. Teeth grinding typically occurs during sleep, causing constant strain on your muscles throughout the night. Over time, this results in TMJ disorder, as your muscles become overworked and sore.
TMJ pain interferes with your ability to chew and function, as patients may experience lockjaw or incredible stiffness. Fortunately, when your TMJ disorder involves muscle pain, strain, or spasm, Botox® can help!
How We Use Botox for TMJ Pain
Botox® is a brand name for the drug botulinum toxin. When used in safe and controlled doses, this “toxin” helps to relax your muscles, relieving your facial pain and tension!
Because TMJ disorder involves the tightening and straining of your facial muscles, Botox helps relax these muscles. At our office, we administer a safe dose to alleviate tension, often reducing pressure and stiffness in your jaw.
The Botox process is simple and takes only 10 to 15 minutes. First, we clean the treatment area to keep your skin clean and clear. Then, we use a fine needle to inject the Botox liquid into your affected jaw muscles.
Most patients describe the shot as feeling a quick pinch, with little to no discomfort afterwards. Immediately after the injection, you can return to your daily activities with no hesitation.
Typically, within a few days, you’ll begin to feel the effects. Then, in about two weeks, you should feel a significant change in your jaw pain!
However, the effects of Botox on TMJ pain are unfortunately not permanent, as it’s not a cure. In about 3 to 4 months, you’ll need to return for another injection to help manage your TMJ disorder symptoms. Fortunately, your insurance may provide some coverage for Botox treatment if it’s deemed medically necessary!
When diagnosed with TMJ disorder by a medical professional, look into your insurance policy to determine what coverage you may have for Botox injections. For those without coverage, we offer flexible financing plans that help make your TMJ care more affordable.
Visit Riviera Dental Care in Foley, AL, for TMJ Disorder Relief!
If you have TMJ disorder, we may have a solution to relieve your jaw pain! Using Botox® treatment, we can help your facial muscles relax, alleviating the strain and stress on your jaw. This helps to reduce the headaches, neck pain, and jaw stiffness associated with TMJ disorder, allowing you to live more comfortably.
If you’re dealing with muscle-related TMJ pain, visit Riviera Dental Care for a consultation! We’ll help you determine if Botox is the right solution for you.
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