Designing Beautiful SmilesTMJ Therapy – Plano, TX
Relieve Jaw Pain & Restore Oral Function
If you suffer from frequent jaw pain, it may stem from your TMJ or temporomandibular joints. These are the joints in your jaw that are in front of your ears and enable it to move fluidly when you are eating or speaking. Temporomandibular disorders, or TMD, may refer to a variety of issues with the jaw that can cause you pain and discomfort. We offer TMJ therapy in Plano, TX to relieve jaw pain and restore your full range of function.
Diagnosis & Treatment
TMJ pain can lead to a variety of symptoms, such as:
- Pain or soreness in your jaw and face
- Problems trying to open or close your mouth
- Jaws that can become stuck
- Constant clicking or popping when moving your jaw
- Swelling around the joints
The causes of TMD can stem from nighttime teeth grinding (or bruxism), injury to the joint, arthritis, or stress. In order to diagnose a TMD, Dr. Kamali will perform an examination where she checks your jaw for pain or tenderness while it is in certain positions. She will also test how your bite fits together and may take a set of full face x-rays to rule out other possible issues.
A TMD can be treated with relaxation techniques, physical therapy, or even surgery. However, one of the simplest ways to treat TMJ pain is with a nightguard.
Occlusal Splints
An occlusal splint (also known as a nightguard) is a small plastic oral appliance that is meant to help shift your jaw into a more comfortable position and allow the muscles to rest. They also help provide a barrier between your teeth to help prevent nighttime teeth grinding. You would wear the nightguard only when you go to bed. The nightguards from Parkway Vista Dental are custom made for each patient assuring they are both comfortable and effective. Common store-bought nightguards often come in only one size, which may make them ineffective or even damaging to patients. Our nightguards are small, easy to use, and have been shown to help relieve TMJ pain in patients that consistently use them.
If you are suffering from frequent TMJ pain, don’t hesitate to call us today so we can start helping you.
BOTOX® for TMJ Treatment
Patients who struggle with TMJ disorder typically experience pain and aching around their jaw and the associated muscle joints. Without treatment, this can begin to negatively affect their everyday life, making multiple tasks more challenging, such as eating, talking, and feeling comfortable. Fortunately, Dr. Kamali can effectively help alleviate and treat TMJ disorders with BOTOX! With these injections, she can reliably loosen and relax tense muscles around your joints, relieving pain and giving them time to recuperate over a few months.
What Is BOTOX?
BOTOX medication utilizes a diluted bacteria called botulinum toxin, which is designed to help relax or loosen muscles. You’ll first need to visit Dr. Kamali for a consultation to determine the number of injections that you’ll need. During your appointment, she’ll review your history of TMJ disorder and the symptoms most affecting you, and create a detailed treatment plan to address the issue.
In many instances, BOTOX injections for TMJ treatment can be finished within 20-30 minutes, each injection taking a moment to perform. You should usually expect your results to kick in around 5 to 10 days and last for three to four months based on your body’s reaction to the substance. Afterward, you’ll be sent on your way to continue your daily schedule.
Are You a Good Candidate for BOTOX for TMJ Treatment?
BOTOX can be an incredibly helpful treatment for patients who are struggling with muscle spasms, jaw tension, and pain in the face due to strained joints and muscles. Though this procedure can provide temporary relief so that you can enjoy a more comfortable smile, it won’t specifically treat the underlying issue causing TMJ.
Our team generally offers BOTOX for TMJ treatments for those who experience the following symptoms:
How Can BOTOX Treat TMJ Disorder?
By using BOTOX for TMJ disorders, we can effectively reduce pain in your oral movements for a few months. Furthermore, a recent study found that this method can improve around 90% of patient’s symptoms. Injections in the muscles around the jaw joints can help alleviate problems like headaches and severe bruxism while also promoting improved quality of sleep.
TMJ Treatment FAQs
If you’re considering a TMJ treatment, that’s a wonderful idea. The procedure would ease your aching jaw! However, you may want to address some lingering concerns first. Doing so will help you know what to expect from care. Luckily, we at Parkway Vista Dental can help: Below are some popular TMJ questions and their answers. By reading them, you’ll see how your future treatment would work. Should you need additional facts, though, don’t worry – just call our office!
How Long Does It Take for a TMJ Splint to Work?
An occlusal splint generally needs 3-6 months to relieve TMJ discomfort. However, keep in mind that every patient is different. Your own treatment duration might take more or less time.
As you wear the splint, don’t expect symptoms to disappear all at once. Your pain may quickly diminish once treatment starts, yet it won’t cease entirely. Instead, it’ll take time for your TMJs (and the areas around your jaws) to adjust to their new and healthier positions. That means you’ll see marked improvements by the six-week point but not total relief.
How Long Does It Take for BOTOX Injections to Work for TMJ?
Often enough, BOTOX injections ease TMJ pain quite quickly. Many patients notice reduced discomfort in just a few days. Roughly 48 hours after the post-injection bruising and swelling, your symptoms should diminish.
Of course, do note that the relief isn’t permanent. The injection effects tend to last 3-6 months, though some patients may experience them a tad longer. (This length of time can vary according to genetics and disorder severity.) Furthermore, said effects are more prominent when the injections are done within a few weeks of each other.
Should BOTOX not reduce your symptoms at all, talk to your dentist. They can suggest other, more effective alternatives for treating your TMJ disorder.
Is BOTOX for TMJ Safe?
Admittedly, BOTOX relies on botulinum toxin – a substance that can cause a life-threatening reaction. Even so, treatment is quite safe when administered by qualified specialists. Such professionals only inject small dosages so you won’t face severe complications.
As for the risks or side effects of BOTOX, these are minor and temporary at best. They only include slight bruising at the injection site, headaches, mild nausea, and flu-like symptoms. The odds of anything more serious occurring are very low, so BOTOX’s relief for TMJ discomfort is worth the risk. (After all, the injections are non-surgical and minimally invasive.)
Is TMJ Treatment Expensive?
Given the various kinds available, the cost of TMJ treatment can vary widely. The exact pricing will depend on factors like geography and your individual provider. As such, the final expense could range from a few hundred dollars to hundreds of thousands.
All that said, there are rough estimates you can make at the outset. Extensive TMJ treatments are costlier, so BOTOX injections would be less expensive than jaw surgery. Furthermore, care will be expensive if the cause of your issue is severe and complex. You should also note that our office offers CareCredit financing and in-house membership plans.