Botox for TMJ in Barrie

One thing our patients notice right away at Park Place Dental is how our doctors utilize state-of-the-art technology to offer exceptional dental care. This means that you’ll have access to services here that you may not find at other dental practices.

A good example of this is BOTOX treatments. Dr. Ellie Moore is a certified BOTOX provider in Barrie, ON. We’re proud to utilize this innovative treatment to help our patients eliminate sore jaws, painful headaches, migraines, and bruxism, which is clenching and grinding your teeth, typically at night while you sleep.

Don’t let pain hold you back from living the life you deserve any longer! Give Park Place Dental a call today to learn more about how BOTOX can help you and schedule a consultation with Dr. Moore.

Our Barrie patients have many questions about BOTOX injections and their use for relieving TMJ and TMD symptoms. We’ve included some of the most common questions we hear below for your convenience.

There is some confusion around the two acronyms because people often use them interchangeably, but they stand for two different things. TMJ refers to the temporomandibular joint, the connecting joint between the lower jaw and the temporal bone on either side of your head. It is the joint that enables you to chew, yawn, and open and close your mouth. If you place your fingers just in front of your ears and open and close your mouth, you can feel the joints working.

TMD refers to temporomandibular joint disorders, which are painful problems that can occur when the TMJ is malfunctioning.

What causes TMJ pain?

Just like any other joint in your body that is used frequently, your jaw joint can become irritated or inflamed. This can be caused by overuse or if the jaw joint isn’t functioning properly. Because we are constantly using the TMJ, it rarely gets a chance to rest, so when it is irritated, it can result in the painful symptoms we call TMD.

Certain conditions put people at a higher risk of developing TMD disorders, particularly the following:

• Teeth grinding or clenching (bruxism)
• Arthritis or any disease that has an impact on the joints of the body
• An injury to the jaw or head
• A dental bite that doesn’t meet properly (malocclusion)

The number of people affected by TMJ and TMD disorders in Barrie, ON is unknown, but it does seem to affect women more frequently than men.

TMD presents differently in different people. Some signs of the condition are mild, while others are nearly debilitating and can greatly impact your quality of life. If you have any of the following signs, you might want to reach out to our Barrie, ON dental clinic for an evaluation to find out if you have TMD:

• Clicking or popping sounds in the jaw.
• Trouble opening and closing the mouth
• Earaches or pain around the ear
• Frequent headaches
• Pain when yawning or chewing
• Ringing in the ears
• Sensitive teeth
• Tender jaw muscles

Sometimes these symptoms will go away on their own; in other cases, sufferers will find that they’ll need treatment. Often the pain and discomfort come in cycles.

Why do I have a clicking sound in my jaw?

If you’re experiencing jaw pain, a clicking sound when you chew, or a locking jaw, you may be suffering from temporomandibular joint dysfunction, sometimes referred to as TMD but more often as TMJ. We can help treat this dysfunction in our Barrie, ON dental clinic.

At Park Place Dental, our dentist has a lot of experience treating TMJ disorders, which is the joint that connects your jaw to your skull. When this jaw does not function properly, it can lead to jaw pain. We are a BOTOX provider in Barrie, and we generally use this product to treat TMJ.

BOTOX is used in migraine therapy to smooth out wrinkles, help prevent teeth grinding during sleep and other specific issues like TMJ. It is injected with a small needle by our skilled Barrie, ON dentist, and it goes on to relax the muscles to help bring pain relief to those suffering TMJ pain.

Signs you might have TMJ include:

• Jaw pain
• Headache
• Neck pain
• Jaw clicking
• Jaw locking

BOTOX is a purified form of Clostridium botulinum, Botulinum toxin type A. It is designed to inhibit the release of certain chemicals between a nerve and a muscle, which causes the muscle to relax for a period of time.

Dr. Moore has been trained on exactly how to intentionally inject BOTOX into the right muscles to reduce your symptoms. These treatments typically last around four to six months before needing an update.

How does BOTOX relieve TMJ pain?

BOTOX is used cosmetically to give people a more youthful look by smoothing out wrinkles on the skin and is also very helpful for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain and disorders.

Temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD for short, causes overactive jaw and facial muscles to clench, creating pain and inflammation in the jaw joints. BOTOX injections can help relieve tension in these overactive muscles, helping them to relax. Ultimately, this reduces pain in the jaw joints.

BOTOX is widely known for its anti-aging benefits because when it relaxes muscles, it also reduces wrinkles and facial lines. However, those who suffer from debilitating headaches can also find relief from BOTOX injections because of the freezing effect they deliver to muscles.

Treatments with BOTOX are also highly successful for muscles that may be working at night to cause headaches, bruxism, excessive wear, and other damage to your teeth. Patients in Barrie, ON, who suffer from the temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ, can also benefit from BOTOX treatments since bruxism is often the cause of painful TMJ issues.

Is BOTOX right for me?

If you suffer from frequent headaches, facial pain, clicking or popping in your jaw, or excessive wear to your teeth, it may be a good idea to determine if BOTOX would benefit you. Dr. Moore is happy to discuss your concerns with you and create a plan if it seems BOTOX is the right treatment for your needs.

Some patients may also notice improvements in using a nightguard to protect their teeth during sleep or combining these two treatments.

If you would like to learn more about TMJ treatments and solutions, call Park Palace Dental in Barrie, ON to schedule an appointment. Our dentists will evaluate your jaw joints and muscles to learn whether you’re a good candidate for TMJ treatments with BOTOX in Barrie, ON.