TMD Treatment Alternative TMJ & Bruxism Solution

TMD or Temporomandibular Joint Disorder is an acute or chronic inflammation of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ; the joint connecting the lower jaw to the skull). The disorder and resultant dysfunction results in significant pain and impairment for many.

Bruxism

Teeth grinding or bruxism is a problem that afflicts a large percentage of Americans. Aggravated by stress, this condition frequently runs in families. People that clench their teeth during the day or at night mostly do so without knowing that they are doing it – they can’t help themselves. Those that only grind at night only know that they are doing it if they wake up with jaw soreness or if their dentist notices that they are wearing down their teeth.

Bruxism and TMD can result in headaches, earaches, facial pain, chipped teeth and chewed tissue on the inside of the mouth. Chronic grinding will often lead to a hypertrophied masseter muscle – the main muscle that is used for chewing. This is a muscle that is located at the angle of the jaw. Grinding builds this muscle and makes it stronger, like lifting weights does for the biceps. The stronger the muscle gets, the more damage clenching causes to the teeth. Headaches and facial pain also tend to get worse with time.

Traditional TMD & Bruxism Treatment

Traditionally, treatment of teeth grinding has been led by dentists. Since malocclusion or abnormal teeth alignment is known to make bruxism worse, one of the first principles of treatment is to optimize the bite. Another common treatment is the use of bite blocks to keep teeth from coming together at night. Unfortunately, bite blocks do not help clenching during the day, and frequently do not work at night because people spit them out due to discomfort.

Botox Injections Give Instant Relief

For the past two years, Dr. Cardona has been using Botox to treat chronic teeth grinding. Not only are his patients experiencing instant relief from jaw pain, tension and headaches, but they are seeing a dramatic change in the way that their face looks. The square, severe appearance of their lower face softens into a more normal and esthetically pleasing jaw line.

Botox would seem to be a very logical approach to the treatment of bruxsim. It can be injected precisely into the sorest part of the muscle,weakening the most spastic part of the very large masseter muscle without affecting the ability to chew. Breaking the spasm of muscle often only requires stopping the origin or focal area of contraction and not the whole muscle. Even with only partial relief of muscle tension,pain is less and less clenching occurs.

Three to five injections are done through the outer skin into the underlying masseter or temporalis muscle. It usually takes about 25 to 30 units per affected side as a starting dose.It may eventually take a higher dose to get a more complete relief but his starting dose should at least get some relief.Like all Botox injections, it takes about a week to see its effect, so patients have to be patient.

Call our office today for you next appointment.

(310) 322-1814