Giatras Family Dentistry

Botox for TMJ in Murfreesboro

Botox is an injectable shot that uses botulinum toxin type A to temporarily freeze a muscle. This allows wrinkles around the targeted area to appear smoother and less visible and is typically used to relieve crow’s feet and frown lines, and even painful TMJ symptoms.

Botox is much more than just an aesthetic enhancement; it can also be used as a dental tool to relieve painful TMJ symptoms, migraines, and uncontrollable teeth grinding. Left untreated, bruxism, or teeth grinding, can cause premature wear and tear on teeth and jawbone density, causing serious issues for your overall health later down the road. Whether you’re looking for pain relief or a smile makeover, Giatras Family Dentistry can provide Botox for TMJ in Murfreesboro.

Botox for Aesthetics

Many people seek Botox treatments to smooth out facial wrinkles. As a minimally invasive procedure, it’s considered a safe, effective treatment for fine lines and wrinkles around the delicate area of the eyes. It can also be used on the forehead and between the eyes.

Along with smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles, Botox can also assist in other cosmetic dentistry applications. A Botox lip treatment can be used as a non-invasive gummy smile treatment to help freeze the upper lip muscles from over-contracting and exposing too much gumline.

Botox for TMJ

TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) disorders are a common cause of jaw pain and tend to occur when the joint feels strained or out of place. This can cause muscle tension, grinding, or cleaning and lead to symptoms like clicking in the jaw, jaw pain, headaches, and difficulty opening and closing the mouth. Botox treatments for TMJ disorders work to prevent the contraction of muscle cells and relax the muscles of the jaw and face.

What Can Botox Help With?

Roughly 10 million Americans suffer from TMJ pain. When you’re struggling with jaw pain caused by night grinding, or migraines as a result of clenching your teeth, you can feel desperate to escape the pain. Besides discomfort, these issues can cause long-term problems like wearing away tooth enamel and eroding jawbone density. Botox for TMJ pain may be the solution you’ve been looking for if you find yourself

  • Suffering from chronic jaw pain
  • Having chronic clicking in your jaw
  • Struggling with chronic migraines
  • Having uncontrollable daytime or nighttime teeth grinding or clenching
  • Wanting to alter your “gummy” smile

The team at Giatras Family Dentistry can help you nail down the best treatment plan for your dental and cosmetic needs.

Medical Benefits of Botox

Botox treatment involves the injection of the neurotoxin botulinum toxin type A into certain facial muscles, causing them to “freeze” and relax. For TMJ treatments, Botox is injected directly into the overused masseter muscles. Once injected, the botulinum toxin blocks the neurotransmitters that tell the masseter muscles to contract involuntarily or in excess. This allows the masseter muscles to relax, leading to

  • Relief from jaw pain and tension
  • An end to involuntary jaw clenching
  • No more teeth grinding in your sleep
  • Relief from migraines caused by clenching and grinding

Botox Treatment for TMJ

The process for treating TMJ with Botox begins with a consultation with Dr. Giatras’ Murfreesboro dental office, where he’ll examine your jaw and overall oral health and determine whether Botox is the right choice for your needs. Once a treatment plan is confirmed, Dr. Giatras will mark the target area to indicate where the injections will be placed. The number of injections will vary for each individual depending on the size of their masseter muscle and the affected facial areas.

Most patients feel little to no discomfort with Dr. Giatras’s practiced hand during the actual injection process. The final effects of Botox take up to two weeks to develop. Two to four weeks after your Botox injections, you’ll come back to the office for a follow-up visit to ensure the treatment is complete.

Get relief from TMJ pain with Botox injections at Giatras Family Dentistry!

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