Botox for TMJ and Migraines
Botox injections at your Modesto dentist’s office? Yes, but it’s not only for smoothing your smile lines. The latest scientific research has uncovered two additional uses for botox that Dr. Tourtlotte uses to benefit our patients: TMJ relief and migraine relief.
How Does Botox Work?
You probably already know that prescription Botox is derived from Clostridium botulinum bacteria, purified to strict FDA standards for therapeutic purposes. Injecting a tiny amount into a muscle temporarily paralyzes it. It has long been used as an injectable cosmetic wrinkle eraser. Today we can use it in medical and dental applications as well. Botox is currently being used to treat several medical conditions involving muscle spasms of various types. Our dentist in Modesto uses it to relieve the jaw pain and discomfort of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder and migraines.
Botox for TMJ Jaw Pain Relief
The temporomandibular joint is the technical term for the double hinge that connects your jaw to your skull. TMJ refers to a disorder affecting how this hinge joint functions. When you have TMJ, you may experience jaw pain while trying to chew food, talk, or yawn. You might also hear and feel a popping or clicking noise when moving your jaw. In worst-case scenarios, your jaw might even lock temporarily. TMJ disorder has a variety of causes, but it is most commonly associated with stress on the muscles supporting the jaw. If you subconsciously clench your jaw when you’re stressed out, or grind your teeth in your sleep (bruxism), a tight, painful overuse injury to the jaw muscles may result.
After examining your jaw and assessing your pain levels, Dr. Tourtlotte may recommend Botox injections for TMJ relief. Injecting Botox into certain jaw muscles can temporarily relax and relieve muscle tension to ease jaw pain.
Botox for Migraine Headache Relief
Migraines are excruciatingly painful, throbbing, debilitating headaches that can put you out of action for hours to days at a time. You might wonder why anyone would visit their Modesto dentist for migraine relief, but Dr. Tourtlotte is qualified and certified to offer this FDA-approved migraine treatment to our patients. It is a migraine pain relief strategy that temporarily paralyzes certain sensitive nerves in the neck, scalp, and shoulders connected to neurological pathways migraines trigger in the brain.
Your Migraines and TMJ May Be Connected
Dr. Tourtlotte is the dentist Modesto migraine sufferers trust for Botox injections because she understands the connection between TMJ and migraines. The muscles, nerves, and other tissues surrounding your jaw joint are connected to muscles and nerves that impact migraine headaches. Often, a bout of TMJ disorder may trigger a bout of migraines, and vice versa. Stress, tension, hormonal changes, certain foods, etc. can cause a painful TMJ-migraine attack. Botox injections can halt these combined attacks by stopping nerve messaging and muscle tension involved in causing these two painful situations. Botox injections for migraines and TMJ provide relief for about three months before you need a repeat injection.
Valley Esthetics Dental Group – The Dentist Modesto Trusts for Botox for TMJ and Migraines
Dr. Tourtlotte and our whole dental care team here at Valley Esthetics Dental Group in Modesto are pleased to offer this advanced level of jaw pain relief care that can extend into stopping excruciating migraines. We have served Modesto and the surrounding areas of Oakdale, Turlock, and Riverbank for more than 10 years with the highest quality dental care and smile esthetics services. Please schedule an appointment today for all your dental needs, including Migraine pain relief and TMJ jaw pain relief.
We look forward to helping you smile without the pain!
