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Have you been struggling with daily pain? There’s nothing that makes you feel less like yourself – and more irritable and uncomfortable. But the problem with pain is that it can be pretty persistent.
If your discomfort stems from overactive muscles, it’s especially problematic. How do you get those muscles to calm down? They clench in your sleep, when you’re stressed, and even when you think you’re safe from contractions. And if your pain stems from your jaw, it’s even harder to cease.
Our jaws manifest a great deal of the stress and anxiety that we experience on a daily basis. It’s hard to control your jaw muscles, and they’re prone to contracting on their own (whether you realize it or not). Hoffman Dental Care offers a solution: Botox treatment.
Do You Have a Jaw Disorder?
The temporomandibular joint is the connecting point between your upper and lower jaws. It contains a number of delicate, moving parts that work together to allow the full range of jaw movement that we typically enjoy. The joint is located on both sides of your face.
The TMJ becomes problematic because it’s a fragile thing. If it’s overworked or aggravated, it may become inflamed or damaged. And if the troublesome muscle movement continues. you could end up seeing larger problems, and even needing jaw surgery.
The best option is to catch your disorder (aka TMD) in its early stages. Watch out for the following signs of a potential problem:
- Waking up tired and feeling sleepy during the day
- A sore jaw
- Painful teeth
- A fatigued-feeling jaw that’s hard to move
- Facial, ear, or head pain
- Limited jaw movement or a locked jaw
- Difficulty chewing
- A change in your bite
- Facial swelling
Tackling Chronic Pain – in a New Way
TMJ treatment will help you regain peaceful nights
The way we handle TMD has changed. While some patients benefit from mouth guards, this doesn’t always address the root of the problem. Mouth guards may immobilize the lower jaw, but they can’t stop the muscles from contracting in the first place. Your jaw can still attempt to clench and grind (especially throughout the night, when you’re unconscious), aggravating the jaw joints in the process.
Immobilizing the jaw may not be the right treatment for you. With Botox, we can stop those problem muscles from contracting unnecessarily. And once they are at rest, you’ll be feeling better – almost immediately.
Finding Therapeutic Botox
Wondering how Botox relieves pain? The answer has to do with the same reason it smoothes facial lines. In fact, Botox was actually a medical treatment before it was an aesthetic one. Botox interrupts the communication chain between nerves and muscles. After treatment, even when your body is attempting to tell the muscle to contract, it remains relaxed. This allows the aggravated area to heal, and the disorder to improve.
When it comes to Botox, it’s all about moderation. Dr. Hoffman will provide just enough to relax your jaw – without robbing you entirely of muscle control. You’ll still be able to chew, speak, and emote as usual. But when you’re at rest, your jaw will remain at rest. By addressing the real reason behind your pain, Botox soothes the area and helps you return to life as usual.
Botox is right for many different patients, and we’re willing to bet that it could help you. The first step is to schedule a consultation and see what’s possible. Don’t let discomfort control you any longer – get in touch with Hoffman Dental today.
