Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) is a fairly common disorder involving improper jawbone functioning. It is difficult to treat. However, there are methods to treat it, though, that are not all that invasive such as Botox® for TMJ. The truth is TMJ is a very serious condition that can cause all sorts of problems, including the inability to open or close the mouth properly. Due to the impact that this can have on everyday life, it's important to seek proper treatment as soon as possible.
While there are other non-invasive treatments for TMJ, many options only treat specific issues. The most common treatment for severe TMJ is surgery to resituate the jaw. It helps before you decide if Botox for TMJ is the right solution to understand the causes of TMJ and how it is commonly treated. This will help patients make the best decision for their unique situation.
Unfortunately, TMJ is one of those conditions that can vary in symptoms and severity and the root cause of the problem. To better understand how Botox can help, here are some common causes of TMJ.
Impacts on the jaw can cause TMJ to develop. This includes accidental injury while playing sports, slips, falls, or other impacts. These injuries can cause the jawbone to inflame and make it difficult to open or close the mouth. In the most severe cases, the injury may cause the jaw to be moved completely out of place, making it difficult to chew, swallow, or open and close the mouth.
In some cases, other dental issues, such as overbites, can affect the portion of the jaw and cause TMJ to develop. In some cases, these issues develop due to poor oral hygiene habits such as thumb sucking. In other cases, the positioning of the teeth or jaw may be off due to genetic factors.
A dentist can usually find and address these issues before the TMJ becomes too severe and requires more invasive options.
This is one of the more common causes of TMJ outside of injury. Many folks unintentionally clench or grind their teeth which puts tremendous pressure on the jaw and may cause it to become sore and make movement more difficult. Prolonged clenching may result in severe lockjaw requiring corrective surgery to fix. Most often, a dentist will prescribe a night guard or bite guard to protect the teeth and lessen the impact of teeth grinding, which may alleviate symptoms.
One of the reasons that Botox for TMJ is so effective is that rather than addressing one specific cause of TMJ, Botox works on relieving the pain and symptoms by addressing the jaw itself.
A Botox injection can cause certain jaw muscles to disengage, meaning they will relax, the pain will diminish, and the range of motion will improve. This can alleviate mild to severe TMJ because of the way it interacts with the muscles that control the jaw. This makes Botox an incredibly effective solution for TMJ pain.
Most patients prefer Botox as an option for their TMJ treatment because, unlike other choices, it is minimally invasive and provides almost immediate results. Other options like surgery and specialized mouthguards are much more invasive and take time to work, leaving the patient dealing with symptoms for quite a while before the treatment takes effect.
Besides taking effect immediately, patients are also about to receive the treatment quickly. Unlike specialized mouthguards, which have to be made, and surgery which takes time to prepare for and recover from, Botox is readily available. This is partly because many dental clinics and medspa facilities use Botox for other treatments, such as facial aesthetics.
TMJ is a serious jaw disorder that causes problems with how a person can eat, speak, and move and can negatively impact their overall quality of life. The treatments available for TMJ depend largely on the cause of the disorder and how severe the disorder has gotten.
In some cases, TMJ may be caused by an alignment issue that a specialized mouthguard or oral surgery can treat to repair the jaw's position. However, in cases where the cause is not an alignment issue but instead due to pressure on the jawbone or the joints, Botox can treat the TMJ and dramatically relieve the symptoms it causes quickly.
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