YOUR DENTIST CAN USE BOTOX TO TREAT TMJ AS WELL AS DERMAL FILLERS

If you’re among the millions of Americans who experience chronic jaw pain, your dentist may be able to offer relief with a simple injection. Most people believe that Botox® and dermal filler injections are the provenance of medical spas and plastic surgeons. However, many dentists use Botox® and dermal fillers to treat jaw-related issues and are skilled at using them for cosmetic purposes.

Thus it is with Southwest Florida dentists Dr. Jonathan Van Dyke and Dr. Ryan Whelen who treat temporomandibular joint disorder with Botox® and dermal fillers. They also offer their Marco Island patients Botox® and dermal filler injections as part of their cosmetic dentistry services. Let’s take a closer look at how our dentists use Botox and dermal fillers to treat jaw disorders and enhance the smiles and facial contours of their patients.

WHAT IS TMJ AND WHY BOTOX®?

Your jaw is medically known as the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), one of the human body’s most complex joints. The interconnected muscles, ligaments, and discs connecting the upper and lower jaw bones allow for the facial movements that make your mouth operational. As a component of oral health, many dentists are trained in diagnosing and treating TMJ disorders. Given the complexity of the joint, pain is not uncommon but becomes problematic if the pain becomes chronic. Typical TMJ disorder symptoms include:

• Pain while talking or chewing.
• Discomfort with the bite.
• Jaw locking that makes it difficult to open or close the mouth.
• Hearing clicking noises or feeling a grating sensation when opening or closing the mouth.
• Pain or tenderness in the actual joint.
• Pain in the neck or shoulders.
• Pain in or around the ear.
• Swelling on the side of the face.
• Toothache.
• Buzzing or ringing in the ears.

Chronic TMJ can be severely painful to the point of disrupting work, personal relations, and overall quality of life. With numerous causes—injuries, arthritis, autoimmune diseases, infections, and medication side effects—the medical profession tailors invasive and non-invasive treatment on a case-by-case basis. In many cases, these treatments fail to provide patients with the pain relief they seek. However, studies have determined that Botox® can provide patients with long-term relief from TMJ symptoms where other treatments have failed.

HOW BOTOX® HELPS ALLEVIATE TMJ SYMPTOMS

The active ingredient in Botox® is a neurotoxin that blocks nerve signals regulating muscle contraction. When carefully injected into the jaw area, the resultant muscle relaxation eases the tension responsible for the pain and other symptoms associated with TMJ. Botox® also helps decrease teeth clenching and grinding (bruxism) that often contributes to TMJ symptoms.

THE ROLE OF DERMAL FILLERS IN TMJ TREATMENT

Your Marco Island dentist may recommend dermal filler injections as an adjunct to your Botox to treat TMJ disorder. A dermal filler strategically injected into the joint area can provide cushioning to enhance pain relief and improve TMJ functioning.

ARE DENTISTS QUALIFIED TO ADMINISTER BOTOX® AND FILLERS?

Dentists who use Botox to treat TMJ disorder and dermal filler injections undergo specialized training in the treatment regimen. However, dentists already have an advantage in the treatment through their detailed working knowledge of facial anatomy, facial symmetry, and the muscular dynamics of the TMJ. They also have training and experience in injecting anesthetics into the facial region with the least patient discomfort possible.

COSMETIC DENTISTRY ADOPTION OF BOTOX® AND DERMAL FILLERS

The qualifications making a dentist qualified to treat a patient’s TMJ disorder with Botox® and dermal fillers make them equally adept at using them for cosmetic purposes. Island Tower Dentistry specializes in using dermal fillers to reduce the appearance of a gummy smile and uses Botox® and fillers to enhance facial aesthetics. In fact, many patients who undergo a smile makeover in our Marco Island office add injectable treatment to better frame their renewed smile with smooth, youthful-looking skin.

CONTACT ISLAND TOWER DENTISTRY FOR MORE INFO ON USING BOTOX TO TREAT TMJ

If you’re suffering from chronic TMJ disorder symptoms, Southwest Florida’s Island Tower Dentistry can provide you relief with Botox® and/or dermal filler treatment. We also offer these injectable treatments as a cosmetic option for enhancing facial aesthetics. For all of your functional and cosmetic dentistry needs, schedule an appointment with Dr. Van Dyke or Dr. Garcia in the Marco Island, Florida, area at 239-394-1004.