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My Blog

Posts for tag: tmj disorders

Be Wary When Considering Botox Treatment for TMD

By Jose I. Arauz, DMD, PA
November 30, 2018
Category: Dental Procedures
Tags: tmj disorders   tmd  
BeWaryWhenConsideringBotoxTreatmentforTMD

If you’ve suffered from problems with your jaw joints, known collectively as temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), then you know how uncomfortable and painful they can be. You may also have heard about the use of Botox injections to ease TMD discomfort.

Before you seek out Botox treatment for TMD, though, you should consider the current research on the matter. Far from a “miracle” treatment, the dental profession is still undecided on the effects of Botox to relieve TMD pain symptoms — and there are other risks to weigh as well.

Botox is an injectable drug with a poisonous substance called botulinum toxin type A derived from clostridium botulinum, a bacterium that causes muscle paralysis. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved small dose use for some medical and cosmetic procedures, like wrinkle augmentation. The idea behind its use for TMD is to relax the muscles connected to the joint by paralyzing them and thus relieve pain.

The FDA hasn’t yet approved Botox for TMD treatment, although there’s been some use for this purpose. There remain concerns about its effectiveness and possible complications. In the first place, Botox only relieves symptoms — it doesn’t address the underlying cause of the discomfort. Even in this regard, a number of research studies seem to indicate Botox has no appreciable effect on pain relief.

As to side effects or other complications, Botox injections have been known to cause pain in some cases rather than relieve it, as with some patients developing chronic headaches after treatment. A few may build up resistance to the toxin, so that increasingly higher dosages are needed to achieve the same effect from lower dosages. And, yes, Botox is a temporary measure that must be repeated to continue its effect, which could lead to permanent paralyzing effects on the facial muscles and cause muscle atrophy (wasting away) and even deformity.

It may be more prudent to stick with conventional approaches that have well-documented benefits: a diet of easier to chew foods; cold and heat applications; physical therapy and exercises; pain-relief medications and muscle relaxers; and appliances to help control grinding habits. Although these can take time to produce significant relief, the relief may be longer lasting without undesirable side effects.

If you would like more information on treatments for TMD including Botox injections, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation.

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Why the Treatment Model for Your Jaw Joint Disorder Matters

By Jose I. Arauz, DMD, PA
October 07, 2017
Category: Oral Health
Tags: tmj disorders  
WhytheTreatmentModelforYourJawJointDisorderMatters

Your temporomandibular joints (TMJ), located where your lower jaw meets the skull, play an essential role in nearly every mouth function. It’s nearly impossible to eat or speak without them.

Likewise, jaw joint disorders (temporomandibular joint disorders or TMD) can make your life miserable. Not only can you experience extreme discomfort or pain, your ability to eat certain foods or speak clearly could be impaired.

But don’t assume you have TMD if you have these and other symptoms — there are other conditions with similar symptoms. You’ll need a definitive diagnosis of TMD from a qualified physician or dentist, particularly one who’s completed post-graduate programs in Oral Medicine or Orofacial Pain, before considering treatment.

If you are diagnosed with TMD, you may then face treatment choices that emanate from one of two models: one is an older dental model based on theories that the joint and muscle dysfunction is mainly caused by poor bites or other dental problems. This model encourages treatments like orthodontically moving teeth, crowning problem teeth or adjusting bites by grinding down tooth surfaces.

A newer treatment model, though, has supplanted this older one and is now practiced by the majority of dentists. This is a medical model that views TMJs like any other joint in the body, and thus subject to the same sort of orthopedic problems found elsewhere: sore muscles, inflamed joints, strained tendons and ligaments, and disk problems. Treatments tend to be less invasive or irreversible than those from the dental model.

The newer model encourages treatments like physical therapy, medication, occlusive guards or stress management. The American Association of Dental Research (AADR) in fact recommends that TMD patients begin their treatment from the medical model rather than the dental one, unless there are indications to the contrary. Many studies have concluded that a majority of patients gain significant relief with these types of therapies.

If a physician or dentist recommends more invasive treatment, particularly surgery, consider seeking a second opinion. Unlike the therapies mentioned above, surgical treatments have a spotty record when it comes to effectiveness — some patients even report their conditions worsening afterward. Try the less-invasive approach first — you may find improvement in your symptoms and quality of life.

If you would like more information on treating TMD, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Seeking Relief from TMD.”

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Archive:

  • 2019
      • February (2)
        • 3 Ways Orthodontic Techniques Could Prevent a Poor Bite
        • Legal or Not, Marijuana Poses a Health Risk to Your Gums
      • January (3)
        • 3 Reasons Why Your New Dentist Needs Your Treatment Records
        • How Kathy Bates Retains Her Movie-Star Smile
        • 4 Ways to Check on Your Brushing and Flossing Effectiveness
  • 2018
      • December (4)
        • Practice the Dental Care Basics to Ensure a Healthy Smile
        • Why Dental Implants Are Right for You
        • Stop Smoking to Reduce Your Risk of Gum Disease
        • Why Big Bang Theory Actress Mayim Bialik Couldn't Have Braces
      • November (3)
        • Be Wary When Considering Botox Treatment for TMD
        • Don't Ignore Sudden Tooth Pain - Your Teeth may be Telling you Something
        • Gum Surgery Can Improve Your Smile and Save Your Teeth
      • October (5)
        • NBC Star Delivers a Message about the "Perfect" Smile
        • What You Should Know About Antibiotic Therapy Before Implant Surgery
        • Eat the Right Kind of Carbs to Protect Yourself from Gum Disease
        • Signs You May Need a Tooth Extracted
        • Orthodontics and Your Teen
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        • Your Age Won't Necessarily Decide Against Straightening Your Smile
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        • Holiday Tips for Healthier Teeth
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        • Are You Keeping Good Oral Hygiene Habits?
        • There's a Good Reason for Adults to Consider Orthodontics - Better Oral Health
      • October (4)
        • Mayim Bialik's "Halloween Fairy" Helps Keep Her Kids' Teeth Cavity-Free
        • The Timely Use of a Palatal Expander Could Help Correct a Cross-Bite
        • Why the Treatment Model for Your Jaw Joint Disorder Matters
        • Would Dental Implants Help Me?
      • September (2)
        • Think You Have Sleep Apnea? Find Out for Sure to Get the Right Treatment
        • (Don't) Break It Like Beckham
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        • The 3 Top Causes for Tooth Sensitivity
        • Master Illusionist Benefits from the Magic of Orthodontics
        • What is Gum Recession?
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        • Use the Same Prevention Strategy to Defeat Tooth Decay and Gum Disease
        • Beyonce Makes Flossing a Family Affair
        • Screw or Cement: Which is Best for Attaching Your Implant Crown?
      • June (3)
        • Jamie Foxx Chips a Tooth - This Time by Accident!
        • Don't Ignore These Signs Of Periodontal Disease
        • Dealing with the Reality of Increased Disease Risk with Braces
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        • Vivica's Veneers: the Making of a Hollywood Smile
        • Only a Dental Exam can Identify the Root Cause of Your Tooth Pain
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        • In Today's NFL, Oral Hygiene Takes Center Stage
        • Instill in Your Child the Daily Habit of Brushing and Flossing
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        • Life Is Sometimes a Grind for Brooke Shields
        • Even if a Root Canal Won't Work, This Procedure Could Save your Tooth
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        • New Front Teeth for a Teenaged David Duchovny
        • A Root Canal Can Stop Tooth Decay and Save Your Tooth
      • January (3)
        • Dr. Travis Stork: Don't Ignore Bleeding Gums
        • Get Control of Dry Mouth to Protect Your Dental Health
        • Neil Patrick Harris: What the Oscars Host Treasures Most
  • 2016
      • December (1)
        • Success with Dental Implants Depends on Attention to Detail
      • November (2)
        • Giancarlo Stanton Gets Major-League Mouth Protection
        • Cleft Repair can Restore a Smile, Change a Life
      • October (3)
        • Even Celebrities Like Jennifer Lawrence Aren't Immune From Bad Breath!
        • What's the Cost of Skipping a Check-up?
        • Where - and How - Does it Hurt? Getting to the Source of Tooth Pain
      • September (5)
        • No "Glee" in Tooth Grinding
        • Gum Recession Could Shorten the Life of Your Teeth
        • Welcome to our Patient Newsletter!
        • To Floss or Not to Floss...is that a real question?
        • Dental Crowns for the King of Magic
      • August (2)
        • Lasers are Making an Impact in Treating Gum Disease
        • A Toothless Tiger?
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        • 3 Things to Consider for Lowering Your Child's Risk for Cavities
        • A Royal Fix
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        • Effective Hygiene is Key to Preventing Enamel White Spots While Wearing Braces
        • Sofia Vergara: 'Obsessed' With Oral Hygiene
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        • Noah Galloway's Dentally Dangerous Dancing
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        • Dwight Howard: A Bright NBA Star With a Smile to Match
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        • Eden Sher and the Lost Retainer
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        • Tom Hanks' Abscessed Tooth Gets Cast Away
        • Stopping Tooth Decay Could Require Root Canal Treatment
  • 2015
      • December (3)
        • Chrissy Teigen's Teeth-Grinding Troubles
        • With Proper Management, Dental Implants can be a Reality for Diabetics
        • Ariana Grande Breaks Free - of Her Wisdom Teeth

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Email: jose@implantperiohealth.com
Phone: (910) 577-1315
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Email: ambassador@implantperiohealth.com
Phone: (910) 545-0106

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Jose I. Arauz, DMD, PA
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