Family and Cosmetic Dentistry in Tulsa
Tulsa, OK
TMJ treatment in Tulsa
Jaw pain, morning headaches, and worn down teeth usually trace back to clenching and grinding. Both are treatable.
The temporomandibular joint is the hinge in front of your ear that opens and closes your jaw. When the muscles around it are overworked, usually by clenching or grinding, the result is jaw pain, headaches that are worst in the morning, tenderness in front of the ear, clicking, and teeth that wear flat over time.
Most people do not know they grind, because it happens while they are asleep. It is often picked up at a routine exam from the wear pattern on the teeth before the patient has connected it to their headaches.
Custom night guards
A custom night guard is the usual first step. It is made from moulds of your own teeth, so it fits precisely and stays put, and it takes the force of the grinding instead of your teeth and joint. The difference from a drugstore boil and bite guard is fit. A guard that does not fit gets pushed out during the night, or changes how the teeth meet and makes the muscle pain worse.
The guard also protects dental work. Crowns, veneers, and bonding all chip under grinding forces, so if you have had cosmetic or restorative work done, a night guard is what keeps it intact.
Botox for muscle and joint pain
Botox is used here to treat the muscles that do the clenching. Small amounts placed into the masseter and temporalis muscles reduce how hard those muscles can contract, which lowers the force going through the joint and the teeth. Patients typically notice less jaw tightness and fewer tension headaches.
Dr. Hanna is a member of the American Academy of Facial Esthetics, which is the training behind this treatment. Dentists are well placed to give it because the muscles involved are the ones they work around every day and because the treatment is planned alongside your bite rather than separately from it.
The effect is not permanent and treatment is repeated periodically. How often varies by person, and you will be given a realistic expectation at your consultation rather than a fixed promise.
Treating the cause as well
A night guard and Botox both manage the force. Sometimes there is also a bite problem underneath, where the teeth do not meet evenly and the muscles are compensating. Where that is the case, correcting the bite is part of the plan. Stress, sleep, and posture all feed into clenching too, and it is worth saying so rather than pretending a single appointment resolves everything.
Common questions
The questions patients ask us most about this treatment, answered plainly.
How do I know if I grind my teeth
Common signs are waking with a sore jaw or a headache, tenderness in front of the ear, teeth that look flattened at the edges, and sensitivity that has no decay behind it. A partner may also hear it. Dr. Hanna can usually confirm it from the wear pattern at an exam.
Will a store bought night guard work
It is better than nothing for a short period, but it is not a substitute. Boil and bite guards are bulky, they move during the night, and a poorly fitting guard can change how your teeth meet and make muscle pain worse. A custom guard is made from moulds of your teeth.
How long does Botox for TMJ take to work
Most people begin noticing reduced muscle tension within one to two weeks. The effect wears off over time, so treatment is repeated periodically. Your interval is set at your follow up rather than promised in advance.
Book your appointment today
Call the office and we will find you a time that works.