TMJ Treatment With Botox
Jericho, Melville, New Hyde Park and Flushing, NY
Your temporomandibular joints are important components of your mouth. These ball and socket joints, located one on each side of your face where the mandible meets up with the skull, are important for the movements of your mouth. They allow you to open and close your mouth, bite, chew, and move your mouth from side to side.
Healthy joints are unnoticeable. In fact, you probably do not think about them at all. However, when the joints become irritated and inflamed, you could be faced with extreme pain that can make even simple movements of your mouth difficult. At All County Oral Surgery, we can provide you with the relief you need with Botox.
WHAT IS TMJ?
TMJ also called TMJ disorder or TMD, is a broad term that refers to some different issues that affect the health and functionality of your temporomandibular joints and jaw. It could be caused by issues such as bruxism, poor tooth or jaw alignment, or facial trauma. These issues cause irritation and inflammation in the temporomandibular joints, which can then lead to pain and difficulty performing basic movements.
Pain in the temporomandibular joints is one of the most common symptoms of TMJ. Other symptoms include:
• Facial pain and swelling.
• Pain and difficulty doing basic things like eating and speaking.
• Lockjaw.
• Chronic headaches or earaches.
BOTOX FOR TMJ
Botox is commonly thought to be a treatment designed to reduce, and eliminate, the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. While effective for cosmetic use, Botox is also an effective treatment for TMJ. Botox is an injectable form of botulinum toxin. It is a purified protein that works to temporarily block muscle contractions.
HOW BOTOX WORKS
Bruxism is a common cause of TMJ. It is a condition in which you grind and clench your teeth. The muscles in your mouth contract, forcing your jaws to clench. These motions place excessive pressure on your jaws and your temporomandibular joints. This pressure leads to pain and can also lead to tired jaw muscles. To treat TMJ with Botox, we inject the treatment into your skin to target the muscles responsible for grinding and clenching. Botox then relaxes these muscles, helping to alleviate your pain and other bruxism related symptoms.
Getting Botox is a quick, simple, non-invasive procedure. It typically takes only 20 minutes to complete. The most you might feel is minor discomfort or a slight pinch when the needle is inserted. As soon as your treatment is complete, you can go back to your day as normal. It may be recommended that you avoid strenuous activities for 24 hours. You typically start to notice results in just a few days after your injections and these effects can last up to 3 months. It may also be recommended that you have additional appointments to maintain the results.
THE BENEFITS OF BOTOX
Botox provides several significant benefits.
• Treatment is non-invasive and you may experience only minor discomfort.
• There is no downtime after your injections. You can go back to your day as normal.
• Pain and tension in your jaw are alleviated without any impact on the functions of your mouth.
• Injections can help to alleviate not only TMJ pain but headaches and earaches as well.
• Getting injections can help to prevent other potential issues associated with bruxism, such as tooth damage, uneven tooth wear, gum recession, and tooth loss.
With Botox, we can help to alleviate the pain of TMJ, restoring the functions of your mouth and your quality of life. Call our main office in Melville, NY and we will direct your call for any of our other locations for Botox Near You - Melville, Jericho, New Hyde Park and Flushing, New York and learn more and find out if Botox is right for you. All County Oral Surgery can utilize Botox for TMJ treatments.