cosmetic

Mainland Dental Offers Botox to Relieve the Pain of TMJ, Bruxism, and Migraine Headaches

botox atlantic cityDid you know that Botox has therapeutic applications as well as cosmetic applications? It is ideal to release facial muscles in bruxism- a condition where a patient grinds and clenches his teeth. Botox can be administered by one of our highly trained dentists at Mainland Dental to treat muscle spasms, involuntary teeth clenching, symptoms of TMJ disorder and orofacial pain, including migraines.

80% of headaches are tension type headaches and migraines caused by tightening the muscles in the face, neck, and head. Other common pain caused by dental issues include TMD/TMJ, a misaligned jaw, overworked jaw muscles, teeth grinding and clenching; these all cause facial and head pain. Relaxing these muscles is the key to treating and relieving that pain. Botox is probably the most effective way to treat this pain because it works by blocking nerve impulses that cause the muscles to contract. In fact, Botox is FDA approved for the treatment of chronic migraine.

Dental professionals are the logical choice to administer this because they receive extensive training in the head and neck and are experts in the way muscles and joints work in the jaw. Our dentists can palpate the muscles, locate over tense muscles/locate trigger points through both an internal and external oral exam. (A trigger point is a hyper-irritable spot in the skeletal muscle associated with palpable nodules in the bands of muscle fibers.) Once the Botox is injected into the trigger points, it allows those muscles to relax and it keeps them from becoming tight again for up to three months. Some patients find relief from their symptoms within a few hours, while it may take two treatments, twelve weeks apart before maximum headache prevention is achieved.

Consult with one of our doctors today at Mainland Dental if you suffer from TMJ pain, bruxism or chronic headaches/migraines. We can help!

 

Posted in: Cosmetic Dentistry

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