Botox for TMJ

Botox is well-known as a beautifying agent used to make cosmetic changes to the patient’s facial features. Some of the well-known applications of Botox are getting rid of fine lines and wrinkles on the face, eliminating frown lines and other signs of aging, etc. But did you know that Botox can also be used to treat dental concerns such as temporomandibular joint?

How does Botox work?

Botox is Botulinum Toxin A, which is often used as a muscle relaxant. The chemical agent adheres to the ends of the nerve cells when injected into the body, thus keeping them from transmitting signals to the adjoining muscles. This gradually allows the muscles to relax and keeps them from contracting. Botox is used in the treatment of Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) due to the same reason.

What is Temporomandibular disorder (TMD)?

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is an oral condition where the patient experiences severe pain and discomfort in the jaws and the joint that connects the lower jaw to the skull. The cause behind this condition could be excessive pressure applied on them. Some of the activities that lead to Temporomandibular disorders or TMD are jaw clenching, teeth grinding, frequent snacking, injury to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), etc. If it isn’t treated in the early stages, the symptoms could become severe and affect your everyday routine to a large extent.

How is Botox used to treat Temporomandibular disorder (TMD)?

Since the main cause of Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is the stress in the tissues near the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the best and simplest way to treat this is by relieving the muscles of this stress. The dentist will understand the severity of the condition and determine your candidacy for Botox. Once the chemical agent is injected into the tissues near the stressed-out temporomandibular joint (TMJ), it would gradually start to take effect. Within a day or two, you would start to feel the ease in the temporomandibular joints (TMJs), allowing you to move your lower jaw more freely.

You may schedule a consultation with our team of dental experts by calling us at (650) 794-0203 or reaching us through an online query. We’re always happy to help.