It would be fair to say that over the past year, we have all experienced a fair share of increased stress. This stress may also be playing a role in the pain of your TMJ, the temporo-mandibular joint. The TMJ is located on both sides of the head where the jawbone meets the skull.
A dysfunction of the TMJ joint is recognized as TMD or temporo-mandibular dysfunction. Symptoms of this dysfunction would present as jaw tenderness, jaw locking, headaches, pain in your face and difficulty chewing.
Today, Botox is used to treat over 20 different medical conditions and has been successfully used as an alternative therapy for pain associated with the TMJ. When Botox is appropriately injected into facial muscles that are afflicted with discomfort, the injections help to relax the abnormal muscle contractions. It can relieve TMJ pain and tension for many patients. This treatment is quick and effective as many experience noticeable improvement within a few days of treatment. Botox is recommended as a complimentary therapy to other TMJ treatment such as night guards and physical therapy.
When looking for Botox therapy to alleviate TMJ pain, it is important to find a provider who thoroughly understands the anatomy and function of this complex joint. Dr. Daub is a dentist and will work with you by first completing a thorough examination of your joint and associated muscles along with a review of pain history. She will then determine the number of injections and location where you will best benefit from Botox. Most patients report very little discomfort from the injections. You will begin to feel some improvements within a day or two of treatment. Although many insurances do not cover Botox for TMJ at this time, it is likely that this will change in the future.
We welcome your questions and love taking time with our patients to explore this life-changing therapy for many!
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