TMJ Treatment – St. Augustine

What Is TMJ Disorder?

The TMJ, also known as the temporomandibular joint, is a small set of hinges located in front of the ears. This joint allows your lower jaw to move up and down when you speak, laugh, and talk. The TMJ is one of the most complex joints in the body, so it can be disturbed by a misaligned bite, teeth grinding, and other factors. When this happens, you have TMJ disorder, or TMD.

Symptoms of TMJ Disorder

Apart from jaw pain, you may not know if your condition is considered TMD; however, if you notice any of these other symptoms, you should make sure to call and schedule an appointment with our office as soon as possible:

• Clicking or popping jaw
• Lockjaw
• Earaches
• Pain throughout your face, jaw, and neck
• Stiffness throughout your jaw
• Teeth and bite that do not align
• Difficulty chewing or biting down
• Teeth grinding or clenching (bruxism)
• Chronic headaches or migraines

Types of TMJ Treatments

Treating TMD requires a thorough consultation and diagnostic imaging. When meeting with Dr. Lee, you can expect that he will discuss the severity of your condition and go over the various treatment options that are available in-house.

Occlusal Splint

An occlusal splint is a simple oral appliance that can be customized to address your specific TMD-related issues. One of the most important functions is to gently shift the jaw forward to help it reach its natural resting position. This gives your TMJ a chance to relax and recover, relieving your pain. As another benefit, an occlusal splint can act as a barrier between the upper and lower rows of teeth, which means that the nighttime grinding that is often associated with TMD won’t do further damage to your smile. After a few months of wearing your occlusal splint on a regular basis, you will eventually find that you are experiencing TMD symptoms less frequently or not at all.

Equilibration/Occlusal Adjustment

When the TMJ is unable to reach its natural resting position, the muscles and ligaments of the jaw will start to suffer from a considerable amount of tension that eventually leads to pain. In many cases, the TMJ can’t reach the proper position because the teeth don’t come together correctly. Therefore, to solve this issue, we must make minor changes to the teeth until they come together evenly. This process is known as an occlusal adjustment, but it’s also referred to as equilibration. This usually involves removing small amounts of enamel from your smile, but we may also need to build specific teeth up by placing crowns.

BOTOX Alternative for TMJ Treatment

If you struggle with persistent jaw pain and other symptoms of TMD, Dr. Lee may be able to provide fast relief via Xeomin, a BOTOX alternative. These fast and simple injections can help to relax overworked muscles and work in conjunction with other TMJ therapies, such as equilibration or an occlusal splint. Xeomin can provide months of powerful pain relief and help you get back to living your life!

What Is BOTOX?

BOTOX is a brand name of botulinum toxin. Xeomin is a slightly different formula, so it is sold under a different name. However, it has the same main ingredient. When the neurotoxin is strategically injected into facial muscles, it limits their ability to move. In turn, they are forced to relax. As a result, this can reduce issues like painful tension in the face, migraines, and headaches.

Most patients start to notice results within a few days of their Xeomin injections, with optimum relief occurring after 5 – 10 days. The results can last for several months at a time.

Are You a Good Candidate for BOTOX for TMJ Treatment?

Xeomin might be right for you if you are experiencing persistent symptoms of TMJ disorder, such as jaw pain and tenderness, limited jaw movements, headaches and migraines, chewing difficulties, neck pain, and ringing in your ears.

After a thorough evaluation, Dr. Lee may recommend that you undergo injections to relax your facial muscles. Please note that because Xeomin does not address the root cause of TMD, it is often best used as a complement for other treatments.

How Can BOTOX Treat TMJ Disorder?

The effectiveness of BOTOX and Xeomin stems from their ability to relax stressed and overworked muscles, which can help to reduce pain in the jaw joints and surrounding tissues. There is a body of research to support the effectiveness of BOTOX as a means of TMJ pain relief. For example, one study found that BOTOX improved symptoms in 90% of TMD sufferers.

If Xeomin is right for you, you may need just one round of injections. As other treatments address the cause of your disorder, you might not need additional Xeomin. However, some patients experience the best results by returning multiple times for injectable treatment.