Are you contemplating Botox for TMJ? The temporomandibular joint disorder can completely ruin your life when it has a frequency of recurrence.

Not only does it wear you down, but you are so consumed with excruciating pain. You cannot even participate in day-to-day life events like working, eating, smiling, or talking in such a condition.

Mostly, minor adjustments and lifestyle changes resolve the pain and symptoms. But if the pain and muscle tension is reducing your enthusiasm to go about a routine day, it is time to discuss Botox treatment for TMJ disorders with your healthcare provider.

What is Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorder

The temporomandibular joint is like a hinge that connects the jawbone to the skull — elevating the jaw. But when this joint doesn’t work well, the nerves and other joints in the area cause excruciating pain.

There are a few reasons for a person to develop temporomandibular joint disorder. Either:

• The jaw bone and joint had physical impacts such as improper growth spurt and trauma.
• Or the muscle in the jaw area tense due to stress
• Also, the condition can develop from an improper bite, bruxism (grinding teeth), arthritis, trauma, or wear and tear. However, stress is the biggest contributor and trigger of TMJ.

Botox for TMJ

When the simple intervention doesn’t work, and the constant pain takes a toll on your routine, an intervention like Botox for TMJ can ease the pain.

A study was conducted on twenty-six patients who were administered for Botox (botulinum toxin). After the continued TMJ treatment, 70% of patients felt improvement in pain, jaw tenderness, and muscle tension.

The Procedure

Botox for TMJ treatment is merely an outpatient procedure involving 30-40 minutes. After that, the dentist will assess your condition with the proper checkup and conduct x-rays.

It is important to take the films, so the dentist has a roadmap of the treatment plan. Then, the healthcare provider will inject Botox in your forehead, jaw, temple, and other areas depending on the condition and severity.

Soon after the procedure, you may feel a little better, but mostly the patients observe a complete pain relief within a few days.

Again depending on the case, the healthcare provider will suggest more injections in the coming weeks to completely fix the tension in the temporomandibular joint area.

Since it is an outpatient procedure, patients can continue going about their day with some precautions.

• Do not rub or massage the site. It can cause Botox to spread in adjacent muscles.
• Try eating soft foods for the day.
• Stay upright after some hours of the procedure.
• Try to take it easy and avoid any activity that may raise your heart rate.
• When exercising the face, keep it gentle.
• When applying makeup (if necessary otherwise, have a no-makeup day), avoid putting pressure on injected areas.
• Certain medications may interfere with the procedure and cause bruising. Discuss with the healthcare provider if there are any contradictions.

How Does Botox Help With TMJ?

The beauty of this injection is that it limits the area’s muscle function, resulting in pain relief. In another study, 90% of patients who received botulinum toxin felt instant relief in chronic jaw pains, muscle tension, and migraines resulting from TMJ disorder.

The muscle and joint tension relive significantly, causing the patient to enjoy a better quality of life. Soon you will experience:

• Jaw lock reduction
• Migraines and headaches are not as frequent or, in some cases, resolved completely.
• Lesser symptoms of bruxism
• No jaw or teeth sensitivity

Some patients see around 60% effects, while some experience more. It all depends on the severity, and your health care provider will recommend you more sessions to resolve the tension in the muscles completely.

Managing TMJ without Intervention

Sometimes TMJ can result from improper biting or trauma and may resolve with time. So, watch the symptoms and conditions to see if it may be a temporary problem. You can try using:

• Mouthguard or splint
• Eat soft foods until the pain subsides
• Take medications
• Carry out an exercise of the jaw as prescribed by the dentist
• Apply cold compress

Take Away

Life becomes extremely painful and unbearable for a person with temporomandibular joint disorder. For example, you may be going about your day, and suddenly while chewing food or talking or doing absolutely nothing, the pain triggers.

Ironically, jaw pain is considered one of the agonizing pains. This is because the pain doesn’t stay in one area but spreads to conjoining areas like the ears, head, neck, and shoulder.

The person experiencing temporomandibular joint disorder may have pain for a single day and sometimes for elongated periods. In that case, going about your day, work, and life becomes extremely difficult.

For such patients, botox for TMJ proves to be a blessing — since it is the most uncomplicated outpatient procedure that reduces the pain by over 60% with the first session.

Some patients may feel better completely with only one sitting, while the dentist may recommend a follow-up in the coming weeks to treat it completely.

Botox treatment for TMJ disorder improves the overall quality of life, and the patient can do smaller things like eating, chewing, and smiling — as they should.

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