TMJ disorder, also known as TMD, could lead to pain in your smile and even increase the risk of bruxism (chronic teeth grinding). In addition to treatments like oral appliance therapy, we can offer a surprising solution. In today’s blog, your Lake Orion, MI, dentist talks about treating TMD with Botox infections.
The Warning Signs and Causes of TMJ Disorder
First, let’s talk about TMJ disorder. The disorder could be brought on by changes to your bite balance, such as missing teeth, misalignment, injury to the jaw or face, or issues with the growth of oral structures or the eruption of your teeth. Warning signs could include soreness in the face or jaw, earaches, headaches and migraines, popping or clicking sensations in your jaw, or pain in the neck and shoulders. The disorder could upset how you open and close your mouth, and could lead to serious complications for your oral health. Don’t ignore these warning signs, instead schedule a consultation for a diagnosis!
Bruxism
Bruxism, or chronic teeth grinding, could cause TMJ disorder or be the result of it. With chronic teeth grinding, you wear down outer enamel and even crack or chip the teeth. The damage will expose sensitive inner tissues to harmful bacteria, increasing the risk of complications like tooth decay, infection, or even tooth loss. The same solution we offer for TMJ disorder can help prevent bruxism episodes too, so you avoid further damage and protect your smile from painful symptoms.
Facial Aging
The same actions that help ease the discomfort and strain of disorders like TMD and bruxism also help with the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. When we administer Botox, this sends signals to stop the contractions of certain facial muscles. This eases strain to relieve the tension in your face and jaw, but also helps smooth our line and wrinkles in your face and around your nose and mouth, and in the forehead too. The results can be a more youthful appearance. These results last for months to come, offering cosmetic benefits to your treatment in addition to better oral health and a lack of uncomfortable symptoms in the face, jaw, and head.
Your Initial Dental Exam
If you’re unsure whether you have issues like TMJ disorder or bruxism, and want to know for sure, then you should schedule a checkup. Our team will conduct a detailed examination with advanced technology, so we can identify the factors behind your discomfort and find out if you need treatment. If so, we may be able to offer relief with the administration of Botox, as well as the use of a custom and noninvasive oral appliance. If you have sustained any damage to your teeth from these factors, we can offer cosmetic improvement with cosmetic bonding or even a custom dental crown, so you can smile with confidence following treatment.
Botox
Our team can administer Botox® injections to ease stiffness and strain in your jaw, easing the factors behind your TMD discomfort and bruxism so you avoid painful symptoms and enlarged facial and jaw muscles. Administering the medication only takes a few minutes, and you can experience an easement in discomfort after only a day or two. The results can last for six months on average, and we can readminister during your routine checkup and cleaning visits. In addition to easing the symptoms of TMD and bruxism, this can also for a more youthful appearance by easing the presence of fine lines and wrinkles.
Oral Appliances
We can also ease discomfort and improve your ability to eat and speak with oral appliance therapy, which we could use in conjunction with injectable treatments. With an oral appliance, you wear a custom-fitted device that acts like a mouthguard and is worn as you sleep. The device then repositions the jaw to ease strain and stress, and puts a barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth to prevent bruxism-related damage.
If you have any questions about how we diagnose and treat issues like TMJ disorder or bruxism or if you want care that also offers a more youthful appearance, then please reach out to our team today. We look forward to helping you enjoy better oral health and a more attractive smile, and we can get started now so you start the holiday season with a comfortable smile and results that make you feel confident!
Schedule a Visit to Ease Jaw Joint Strain
We can use injectable treatments to ease signs of aging and treat complications like TMJ disorder. Contact Lake Orion Family Dentistry in Lake Orion, MI by calling 248-693-6213 to learn more about facial treatments.
