TMJ Botox Treatment in St. Albert

The pain associated with temporomandibular joint disorder (or TMJ) can be wide-spread, long-lasting, and endlessly frustrating. Many patients simply resign themselves to the pain, but this is not your only option. Otara Dental offers Botox^® injections to help relieve the pain associated with TMJ. Request an appointment to find out if Botox^® treatments could help alleviate your TMJ symptoms.

What is TMJ?

TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, which is also known as your jaw joint. However, this acronym is also used to describe various jaw joint disorders. TMJ disorder refers to any issues with the muscles, tissues, or bones in and around the jaw joint itself. It can develop for a number of reasons including injury, joint disease and very commonly tooth clenching and grinding.

Symptoms of TMJ

The symptoms of TMJ can include:

Jaw, ear, neck, or facial pain
Headaches including migraines
Clicking, popping, or grinding noises from the jaw
Locking jaw
Difficulty opening or closing the mouth
Ringing or stuffiness in the ears

Treatment for TMJ disorders

Common treatments include:

Short term courses of muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory drugs
Physiotherapy and massage
Professionally fabricated mouthguards to reduce clenching and grinding forces
Soft diet and heat

Most patients respond well to these common treatments. For the few that don’t neuromodulators such as Botox can be very helpful.

How Can Botox^® Help With TMJ?

There’s lots of anecdotal evidence to indicate that Botox^® can help reduce the severity and frequency of headaches and jaw pain caused by tooth clenching and grinding. Botox^® is a medication which temporarily relaxes muscles while also reducing their sensitivity to pain. When injected into the major clenching muscles of the face, Botox^® can reduce the strain and tension held in the muscles surrounding the jaw. Request an appointment to find out how Botox^® can help with TMJ.