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TMD/TMJ Treatment
Temporomandibular
disorders (TMJ / TMDs)
are often called "TMJ"
by doctors, patients and
even insurance
companies, although the
term TMJ actually refers
only to the jaw joints
themselves.
TMD/TMJ describes a
group of diseases that
can involve the jaw
joints, the muscles that
control jaw movement and
the dental occlusion.
TMJ / TMDs are physical
disorders arising from
an imbalance in the
delicate working
relationship of the jaw
and skull with the
muscles that move the
jaw, as well as the
nervous system
associated with these
systems. This imbalance
results in muscle
fatigue, spasm and/or
joint dysfunction, and
even changes in the
teeth, which in turn
cause a variety of
symptoms, unique for
each person
Common symptoms of TMD
include:
• Pain or tenderness in
the face, jaw joint
area, neck and
shoulders, and in or
around the ear when you
chew, speak, or open
your mouth wide
• Limited ability to
open the mouth very wide
• Jaws that get "stuck"
or "lock" in the open-
or closed-mouth position
• Clicking, popping, or
grating sounds in the
jaw joint when opening
or closing the mouth
(which may or may not be
accompanied by pain)
• A tired feeling in the
face
• Difficulty chewing or
a sudden uncomfortable
bite - as if the upper
and lower teeth are not
fitting together
properly
*Swelling on the side of
the face Headache
*Headache is one of the
most common symptoms of
a TMJ problem. Usually
the TMJ headache is
located in the temples,
back of the head, and
even the shoulders.
Clenching and grinding
of the teeth, both of
which may be TMJ
symptoms, produce muscle
pain which can cause
headache pain. Also, a
displaced disc in the
TMJ may cause pain in
the joint which is often
referred into the
temples, forehead or
neck. These headaches
are frequently so severe
that they are confused
and treated (with little
success) for migraine
headaches or
abnormalities in the
brain.
Treatment TMJ
How Does BOTOX® Treat
Jaw Tension and TMJ
Disorder?
BOTOX® relieves jaw
tension by making
muscles unable to engage
in the powerful, often
unconscious movement of
the jaw that produces
headaches and pain.
The BOTOX® alternative
treatment for TMJ
disorders and jaw
tension is usually
quick, straightforward,
and effective. A
non-surgical procedure,
BOTOX® injections are
administered in a
doctor’s office, and
treatment requires no
hospital stay. Most
patients experience
noticeable improvement
within one or two days
of their first
treatment, although
relief can take up to a
week.
Candidates for BOTOX®
Alternative Jaw
Treatment
BOTOX® appears to be a
safe alternative to
traditional treatment
for most people who
experience jaw tension
or have a TMJ disorder.
Nevertheless, it is
important for BOTOX®
providers to screen
patients to determine
their eligibility for
treatment. During the
initial consultation, a
doctor or dentist should
carefully review every
prospective patient's
medical history before
beginning treatment.
Patients must disclose
whether they are using
any medications, drugs,
or other substances that
could negatively
interact with BOTOX®.
They should also report
any allergies they have
to avoid a possible
negative reaction to
BOTOX®. People with jaw
tension or TMJ disorders
who are not able to have
BOTOX® injections will
be advised to undergo a
more traditional
treatment.
Risks and Benefits of
BOTOX® Treatment for Jaw
Tension
For people suffering
from soreness and pain
resulting from problems
with the
temporo-mandibular
joint, BOTOX® injections
often provide
substantial relief.
While reducing the
ability of facial
muscles to engage in
problematic grinding,
BOTOX® allows them to
perform daily activities
such as talking,
chewing, and swallowing.
This makes the BOTOX®
alternative treatment
for jaw tension a
convenient, effective
option for many people.
In addition, the
treatment can help
safeguard dental health,
since excessive grinding
can result in worn teeth
and damaged gums that
may require costly
treatment.
While BOTOX® treatment
for TMJ disorders
appears to be safe,
certain medications,
intoxicants, and other
substances can minimize
or negatively impact the
effectiveness of BOTOX®
injections. For this
reason, patients should
honestly disclose any
medication or substance
use to their physician
prior to treatment. In
some cases, patients
have experienced
bruising and bleeding at
injection sites, or
excessive paralysis of
the muscles in the areas
treated. Although
complications are rare,
all possible risks
should be discussed with
a doctor prior to
treatment.
Other Alternative
Medical Treatments for
TMJ
Alternative medical
treatment for TMJ is
considered less
conservative and not
necessary if you
initially receive proper
diagnosis and treatment.
Alternative treatments
include transcutaneous
electrical nerve
stimulation (TENS),
ultrasound,
trigger-point injections
and radio wave therapy.
TENS and radio wave
therapy send low levels
of electrical or radio
waves of energy to the
affected area in order
to stimulate blood flow
to the joint and
surrounding area.
Surgical Treatment
Surgery is considered
usually after you have
tried all other
treatment options. All
TMJ-related surgery is
performed under general
anesthesia. An oral
surgeon may perform a
minor procedure called
arthrocentesis. During
the procedure, your
surgeon cleanses the
joint by inserting
needles into the joint
area and dispensing
sterile fluid. In some
cases, the surgeon
inserts a scalpel-like
instrument inside the
joint to remove any
tissue adhesions and
reposition the disc in
the joint hinge.
The second type of
surgery is arthroscopy.
During this procedure,
your surgeon makes an
incision at the temple
point in front of the
ear to reach an
endoscope into the
surrounding area. The
endoscope provides a
visual guide so that
your surgeon can remove
any adhesions, treat
inflammation or
reposition the disc.
Alternatively,
open-joint surgery may
be performed. This may
be the only option that
provides access to
deteriorating bony
structures, tumors,
severe scarring or
chipped bone areas.
Depending on the type of
problem, your surgeon
may use a scalpel to
remove or re-sculpt the
affected area
*IF YOU ARE INTERESTED
IN TMJ/TMD TREATMENT
GIVE US A CALL TO FIND
OUT HOW YOU MAY QUALIFY
FOR PATIENT ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM TROUGH ALLERGAN,
PARTNERED WITH COSMETIC
REJUVENATION MEDICAL
CENTER.*
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