A few years ago, I started thinking carefully about what I could do to improve my smile. I had lived with crooked, yellowed teeth for most of my adult life, and honestly, I just wanted to feel beautiful. I started thinking about working with a cosmetic dentist, and before I knew it, I was in an office getting a complimentary consultation. I learned about a variety of different procedures that could improve my look, and it was really fun. I wanted to create a blog all about making smiles more beautiful, which is why I made this website. Check out this blog for great information about dentistry.
If you find yourself frequently suffering from headaches, a stiff neck, or jaw pain, it's possible you suffer from temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ disorder. This potentially painful condition can impair your ability to chew, yawn, and even sometimes talk -- and if over-the-counter pain medications and mouthguards designed to keep your jaw from locking aren't doing the trick, you may wonder whether you have any other treatment options. Fortunately, a treatment frequently used in the cosmetic industry could hold great promise for those suffering from TMJ disorder. Read on to learn more about how the wrinkle-fighter botox can help you manage this condition.
What causes TMJ disorder?
Most dentists and physicians believe that TMJ disorder has a variety of causes, and not all TMJ diagnoses are the same. This condition can be caused by a neck or facial injury that affects the alignment of your jaw, anxiety that causes you to unconsciously clench or grind your teeth, or a defect in the design of your temporomandibular joint itself. You may go months without a TMJ disorder-induced headache and then have several in a row, or take pain medication to combat the headaches and jaw aches you have on a daily basis.
Because the causes of TMJ aren't well understood, and some cases don't appear to have any clear cause, finding an effective treatment method can be a challenge. In some cases, anti-anxiety medication that stops a jaw-clenching habit could be enough to manage TMJ disorder symptoms. In other cases, a mouthguard preventing you from grinding your teeth at night could help you reduce the pain associated with your TMJ disorder. But if your physician is unable to discern the specific cause or causes of your TMJ disorder, you may run into a wall when it comes to treatment.
Can botox effectively treat TMJ disorder?
One TMJ disorder treatment that has demonstrated its effectiveness is the use of botox to immobilize the tiny muscles and nerves around the base of your jaw, reducing tension and pain nearly instantly. During a TMJ botox treatment, the doctor or dentist will carefully inject botox into the pressure points causing you the most pain. The botulinm toxin interrupts the connection between these painful nerves and the rest of your central nervous system, reducing pain levels and even increasing your range of jaw movement. This treatment is effective for a wide variety of TMJ disorder sufferers, even those who aren't sure that's causing the specific physical or biological case of their TMJ disorder.
If you're tired of dealing with the pain and stiffness of TMJ disorder, you may want to make an appointment with your dentist or physician to determine whether this is a viable option for you. If you find that this treatment is effective, you'll be able to repeat it several times per year to achieve a nearly pain-free existence.
For professional dental care, contact a company such as Panther Hollow Dental Lodge.
Share13 October 2015
