
Feb
At Kind Smiles Dental Health, Dr. Allison Konick and her team work hard to ensure patients have healthy and beautiful smiles. But what some patients don’t realize is that several other issues may need attention that might relate to one’s oral health and wellness. That includes patients who have been diagnosed with TMJ disorder. The TMJ, or temporomandibular joint, is the joint that hinges the jaw open and close. It can become problematic for many patients, causing pain, locking, and other issues that may impact their daily lives. With this in mind, our team in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, offers solutions. While some patients may benefit from wearing a special mouthguard to alleviate tension and stress around the joint and reduce damage from clenching and grinding at night, others may find relief with special injectable therapies.
TMJ disorders, sometimes referred to as TMD, require treatment to alleviate many of the problems associated with a malfunctioning jaw joint. Dr. Allison Konick finds that many of her patients can achieve relief with injections of neuromodulators such as Botox and Dysport. Most patients are familiar with Botox and its ability to turn back the hands of time on the face, smoothing away dynamic wrinkles and folds. However, it also plays a role in many other areas of medicine. When neuromodulators are injected into the muscles surrounding the temporomandibular joint, they reduce muscle contractions associated with the tension in the jaw. That relaxes the muscles and provides relief that might otherwise be addressed with daily pain medication or other prescription pharmaceuticals. Instead, this treatment offers months of relief and can be maintained with regular appointments at the dental office. In fact, many patients with TMJ incorporate Botox or Dysport injections with their six-month cleanings and evaluations to keep their jaw functioning at its best.
Any patient who has a TMJ disorder and is considering a longer-term solution rather than wearing a special mouthguard at night might want to talk to Dr. Allison Konick about the advantages of undergoing Botox or Dysport injections. An evaluation is often performed to make sure the patient will have a positive experience with these injectables and is a proper candidate. Some patients even combine their injections with continued oral appliance therapy for the best results and may want to ask Dr. Allison Konick if this is a solution that could work for them.
Pain and discomfort around the temporomandibular joint can be highly problematic for patients. With this in mind, Dr. Allison Konick provides quality care and solutions that work! If you are considering Botox or Dysport injections to relieve TMJ issues, connect with her team by calling (941) 253-5565 for an appointment. Kind Smiles Dental Health is readily available to assist new and returning patients and families with their dental health needs at 11155 East State Road 70.