What Causes TMJ Pain?
Your temporomandibular joints are located on either side of your head and secure your lower jawbone to your skull. They're located just ahead of your ears and play a vital role in eating and speaking. TMJ pain comes from inflammation or irritation of the muscles and ligaments around these joints.
TMJ disorders have a wide range of causes. The joint can become dislocated like any other, causing chronic pain. Teeth misalignment, grinding, and clenching can also lead to pain. The most common symptoms of TMJ disorders are pain in the jaw, headaches, and earaches. TMJ issues can also sometimes lead to a partially or fully locked jaw.
TMJ pain can be difficult to diagnose due to the general nature of many of its symptoms. Our team uses the latest panoramic X-ray technology to evaluate your teeth and jawbone and determine whether factors like misalignment or grinding are contributing.
Treatment for TMJ
Patients can experience varying levels of TMJ pain at different times. For some, simple over-the-counter pain medication is enough, although a consultation with Dental Square will help determine the root cause that could be leading to other issues. Night guards are another common treatment option to reduce the grinding behind the pain.
Another effective treatment option for some patients is Botox for TMJ. This involves a Botox injection at the site to relieve pain and tension in the muscles around the area. Dental Square provides TMJ Botox relief Mountain View residents can trust to deal with chronic and acute TMJ pain.
What Is Botox?
Botox is an injectable substance that provides a non-surgical treatment option for a variety of issues. Most people know it for its use in addressing facial wrinkles and other signs of aging. It works by relaxing muscles in the treated area, which is also how it helps relieve TMJ pain.
The treatment is derived from a toxin produced by bacteria that, in a controlled application, paralyzes muscles. This makes it an effective option for treating TMJ pain when inflammation and irritation of the surrounding muscles are the cause of the pain.
The process is straightforward: Botox jaw treatment is carefully applied to the appropriate area with a syringe. The correct placement is essential to deliver the best results. Overall, the entire process takes as little as ten to thirty minutes.
Following the procedure, patients might experience some slight irritation at the point of application, like with any other injection. You might see a reduction in TMJ pain within just a day or two, although it takes several more days for the full results of the treatment.
Botox treatments are a non-invasive and safe procedure. Botox has been used for a variety of treatments since 1989, when it was given FDA approval for its first use in the treatment of eye-muscle disorders such as uncontrollable blinking. Few side effects are expected from Botox treatments for jaw pain or other conditions.
Botox for TMJ Pain
At Dental Square, our Botox injections are carried out by Dr. Behdad, ensuring you get the professional results you expect from a dental practice. Along with our Botox treatments for effective pain relief, we can also work with you to determine the cause of your TMJ pain and explore additional treatment options.
Your Botox injections will eventually dissipate and be safely disposed of by your body's natural functions. In general, you can expect the effects of your treatment to last between six and eight weeks, at which point additional treatment can be applied.
Book Your Appointment Today
Dental Square is ready to provide both existing and new patients with high-quality treatment. If you're suffering from any kind of jaw or tooth pain, contact our team today to schedule an appointment to find out what our effective treatment options can do for you.