When you have a popping in your jaw or persistent aches in the face and head, this could mean the presence of a disorder known as TMD, or TMJ disorder. Without treatment, this could lead to worsening pain and even issues with bite function. In addition to an oral appliance, your Londonderry, NH, dentist can offer help with Botox, providing relief from TMJ discomfort, and offering a more youthful appearance too!
The Causes of TMJ Disorder
How does a smile develop a disorder like TMD? This typically occurs when issues happen that upset overall bite balance, straining the jaw joints. The pressure on the joints then leads to TMJ disorder, which can mean issues opening and closing your mouth and major discomfort. Factors behind your TMJ dysfunction could include missing teeth, dental misalignment, injury to the face or jaw, issues with the eruption of the teeth or growth of the jaw, the arrival of wisdom teeth, or even untreated bruxism (teeth grinding). As part of your treatment, we will diagnose the underlying factors.
Signs of Trouble
You should be aware of the symptoms too, so you know when to reach out to our team for treatment. People with TMJ disorder may experience headaches and migraines, jaw and facial pain, earaches, and popping or clicking in the smile. Neck and shoulder aches could be possible too, and if your TMD leads to bruxism, tooth sensitivity and toothaches, along with changes to the appearance of the teeth, could occur. Don’t ignore these possible symptoms, please reach out to our team today.
Help with Botox
With Botox, our team will inject a special medication to the side of the face and the jaw. The medication then interrupts the signals between the muscles to stop contractions and pressures, so you enjoy relief from the tension in the jaw and facial muscles. This limits TMJ discomfort and helps stop grinding or clenching episodes too. The treatment also helps smooth away lines and wrinkles around the face, which offer a more youthful appearance at the same time. The effects tend to last about six months, so we can re-administer this during your routine checkup and cleaning visits too!
Oral Appliance Therapy
We could also combine this with oral appliance therapy, in which we custom-fit an appliance that fits like a mouthguard and is worn while you sleep at night. The appliance helps reposition the jaw to ease the tension and pressure, and is easy to use, store, and clean. If you have any questions about how we diagnose and treat issues like TMD, or about Botox, then contact our team today.
Schedule Your Next Visit Today!
We can offer relief for your TMJ dysfunction, so you can enjoy a healthy and comfortable smile. Give us a call at My Dentist in Londonderry, NH at (603)965-3407 today.
