TMJ Treatment – Burbank, CA
Saying Goodbye to Chronic Jaw Pain
Inflammation with the jaw joints can cause intense pain that makes it difficult to function day to day. Without proper treatment, it can make eating, speaking, and other common facial movements painful and nearly impossible. Dr. Ruiz and our dental team want to help dentistry patients suffering from temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) by offering safe and effective solutions. We’ll evaluate your facial and oral structures to determine the right method(s) of treatment, so you can enjoy a better quality of life. Give us a call today if you need TMJ treatment in Burbank, CA.
A TMJ Dentist Who WILL Relieve TMJ & Occlusal Symptoms
Why Choose Dr. Ruiz & Associates, Inc for TMJ Treatment?
- BOTOX to Improve Jaw Function
- Dentist Who Puts Patients First
- Available Extended Hours & Saturdays
Diagnosis & Treatment
The TMJ is the temporomandibular joint that connects the lower jaw to the rest of the head. The term “TMJ” is often used to refer to TMJ disorder, also called TMD, which occurs when the jaw joint becomes stressed, injured, or misaligned. TMJ disorder may result due to several different factors, such as stress, bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching), arthritis in the TMJ, or trauma and injury to the head, neck, or jaw.
You may suffer from TMD if you experience frequent jaw pain or facial pain. TMJ disorders may also cause:
- Grinding, clicking, or popping sounds in the jaw when you open and close your mouth
- Inability to open your mouth wide to speak, yawn, or chew
- A locked or stuck jaw
- Pain when chewing and biting
- Pain in the neck, shoulders, or ears
- Frequent headaches
Equilibration / Occlusal Adjustments
If your bite is misaligned, we can implement an occlusal adjustment by identifying where your teeth do not align properly. Using advanced techniques, we can file the biting surface so that teeth more readily fit together. As a result, this takes additional pressure off your jaw and creates a more harmonious function.
Occlusal Splints
An occlusal splint can be created for your smile should Dr. Ruiz believe this unique device can be a beneficial component of your treatment plan. By wearing a splint while sleeping, your jaw muscles and joints can become more relaxed, allowing them to rest in a more appropriate position. Over time, it will become accustomed to its new location, creating a more pleasing experience.
BOTOX ® Injections
BOTOX® therapy in Burbank, California, has been used as a very successful treatment to manage severe migraines. The full migraine protocol always includes the masticatory (chewing) muscles because they are a big part of the problem.
In the dental setting, we focus solely on the muscles involved in chewing or bite-related headaches. Allowing our expert BOTOX nurse, Natasha Gibson, to do a full evaluation can be beneficial, especially since she and Dr. Ruiz can better diagnose and assess if you are a good candidate. If so, we can deliver treatment for debilitating headaches, migraines, and destructive dental-muscular conditions.
Botox Expert Nurse Natasha Gibson at Dr. Ruiz Dental Office
TMJ Treatment FAQs
Can TMJ Be Cured Permanently?
Discomfort associated with TMJ dysfunction can sometimes go away on its own over time. However, if your symptoms are beginning to impact your everyday life, you should visit a professional for help. Some TMJ treatment methods are great as delivering temporary relief over time, like BOTOX. Other treatments, like occlusal splints and equilibration, are intended to permanently address jaw tension, misalignment, and other underlying causes of TMD.
Is BOTOX for TMJ Safe?
BOTOX is short for botulinum toxin. When administered in the correct dosage by an experienced TMJ specialist, BOTOX is considered to be a safe treatment. There are some possible risks and side effects, but they are minor and temporary. Some of the most common symptoms include:
- Redness and bruising at the injection site
- Headaches
- Mild nausea
- Temporary drooping in the eyelids
Serous side effects of BOTOX are extremely rare. Many people find that the relief they receive from BOTOX is worth the risk.
How Long Does It Take for a TMJ Splint to Work?
Occlusal splints for TMD are worn to bed every night. You may notice that your symptoms start to subside quickly, but this won’t happen all at once. It takes some time for your TMJs and the areas around your jaws to adjust to their new positions. After six weeks, most patients experience marked improvement, but not complete relief. It usually takes between three and six months for discomfort to be resolved. Just keep in mind that everyone is different, so you may see relief in a shorter or longer time than the average.
Can TMD Be Treated Without Surgery?
Yes! In fact, the National Institutes of Health recommend using the most conservative methods possible for treating TMJ dysfunction. Less is more in many cases. Surgery involves making permanent changes to the jaw and nearby anatomy, so it is only ever suggested as a last resort. In addition to at-home methods, like stress relief, TMD can be alleviated with occlusal splints, equilibration, BOTOX injections, and other solutions.
