Many patients know BOTOX® as a purely cosmetic treatment, but at Jones Family Dentistry, our dentist and team can also use it to address a number of non-cosmetic ailments as well. BOTOX is FDA approved as a treatment for a number of conditions, and Dr. Zonaira Alem can use as an alternative treatment for TMD in Jones, Oklahoma. To learn more and schedule your consultation with our team, call our office at 405-399-3100 today.

BOTOX for TMJ Disorders (TMD)

Since the symptoms of a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD or TMJ) are similar to symptoms of more common jaw and sinus issues, TMD can be easy to misdiagnose. A doctor may see headaches and earaches and diagnose a sinus condition, or mistake the facial and jaw pain of TMD for signs of an abscessed tooth. The severity of TMD will also vary from patient to patient, and earaches, teeth grinding and lockjaw are likely to increase during particularly stressful times. For these reasons, TMD may seem difficult to treat. Once diagnosed, however, BOTOX injections are a painless procedure that can offer relief from tension building up in the temporomandibular joint. They can also effectively reduce jaw pain and headaches. Though some symptoms of TMD may improve over time once the cause of the jaw tension has been addressed, BOTOX can provide quick and reliable relief for those that persist, increasing its popularity as a TMD treatment.

Patients who opt for non-cosmetic BOTOX treatments can expect the following:

  • Substantially less tension in the jaw
  • Less pain in the neck and shoulder
  • Less discomfort chewing, eating and speaking
  • Fewer instances of lockjaw
  • Fewer headaches related to bruxism (teeth grinding)

How Does BOTOX work?

Your temporomandibular joints are the points at which your skull connects to your jawbone, and they are located on either side of your head. Because this joint is key for chewing, speaking, biting and swallowing affectively, problems with your TMJ can have a large, negative impact on the quality of your day to day life. Jaw misalignment and unintentional jaw movement (such as bruxism) are two of the most common causes for TMD. BOTOX effectively relaxes the muscles surrounding this joint, putting a stop to unintentional teeth grinding and its related symptoms without affecting your ability to use your jaw for everyday needs. Since TMJ can lead to serious dental issues when left unaddressed, treatments like BOTOX can also act as preventive measures against tooth decay or gum disease.

What Can I Expect During My Appointment?

When you visit our office for you initial consultation, we will help you decide whether non-cosmetic BOTOX is the right choice for you, as its effectiveness will depend on your specific condition and whether you are using other medications or substances to control your TMD symptoms. For example, we do not recommend BOTOX for women who are pregnant or lactating.

During your appointment, your BOTOX injections should only take about 10 to 12 minutes, and they can be administered right in our office. If you are particularly nervous around needles, our dentist may offer nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to help you relax, though the injection itself is comparable to a bug bite. After your appointment, you can return to your daily activities (including driving yourself home) immediately, though we recommend avoiding intense exercise for the 24 hours following treatment. You will begin to feel the full effects a few days after visiting our office, and they can last for up to three months after treatment.

To learn more about TMD treatments or the uses of non-cosmetic BOTOX, feel free to reach out to our office today. We look forward to helping you find relief from your jaw pain.

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