TMJ/TMD in Boston, MA

Temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ disorder, is a condition that can cause pain in the jaw and the muscles that control jaw movement. TMJ disorder can also cause discomfort in the neck and shoulders. TMJ disorder occurs when there is a problem with the muscles, ligaments, or joints in the jaw or jaw joint. 

Symptoms of TMJ include, but are not limited to:

• Joint pain around your ears, neck, and shoulders
• Jaw locking
• Facial spasms
• Earaches and headaches
• Difficulty chewing or biting
• Neck muscle stiffness and pain
• Tension in facial muscles without even opening your mouth wide

For some patients, TMJ pain is temporary, but for others, it can persist for years. If the symptoms affect your daily life or are severe enough to disrupt your sleep, it’s a good idea to seek treatment from a doctor, such as a dentist who offers Botox therapy.

Most cases of TMJ are treated with self-care measures—things like avoiding certain activities, applying heat or ice to the painful area, and eating soft foods to reduce stress on the jaw muscles. If these remedies don’t help, your dentist may recommend a nonsurgical approach, including Botox.

What Causes TMJ Disorder?

There are several conditions that can cause the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, to become inflamed and painful. Temporomandibular joint disorder, also known as TMJ disorder, typically results from poor posture. The condition affects more women than men and is most common in people aged 20 to 40. Poor posture puts excess strain on the muscles that control the movement of the jaw. This can cause inflammation in the muscles and surrounding tissue. Other causes of TMJ disorder include arthritis, stress, teeth grinding, chewing gum, and misaligned teeth.

If left untreated, a variety of symptoms can accompany TMJ disorder. These include joint pain, headaches, earaches, facial pain, tooth sensitivity, reduced ability to open the mouth wide, clicking of the jaw, teeth locking in place, and limited mobility of the jaw. These symptoms may become more severe over time and can limit a person’s ability to eat and speak properly. A person may even have difficulty opening their mouth completely.

Botox For TMJ disorder 

BOTOX injections are used to treat a number of conditions that cause pain and discomfort in the face and mouth, such as severe migraines and tension headaches. The treatment works by stopping the signal from the nerves in the muscles to the brain that causes the muscles to contract. When the muscle doesn’t contract, it will relax, which eliminates any pain caused by muscle contractions. In the case of TMJ disorder, the relaxation of the muscles around the patient’s jaw will relieve discomfort in the neck area as well.

Patients who undergo treatment with BOTOX can typically expect to see relief from symptoms almost immediately after treatment. This does not mean that the treatment is a cure-all for TMJ disorder, however. Patients will need to visit their dentist regularly to monitor how the symptoms progress and possibly recommend another treatment option if the symptoms begin to return.

Night Guard for TMJ Disorder

A night guard is a hard acrylic or soft mouthguard worn at night to prevent your teeth from grinding and clenching as you sleep. This nocturnal habit can cause serious damage to your teeth and jaw joints, causing significant discomfort and pain. Wearing a night guard helps to alleviate these symptoms and protect your oral health. Worn while sleeping, a night guard will prevent the upper and lower jaw from coming together. Instead, it will position the jaws in a slightly open position to prevent the creation of tension in the TMJ.

If you suffer from nighttime teeth grinding or TMJ disorder, our dentist in Boston may recommend a night guard to help protect your smile and keep your smile healthy.