TMJ Therapy – Panama City, FL

Say Goodbye to Your
Jaw and Face Pain

When a joint in your body is thrown off balance, it can result in some very painful problems. That’s perhaps especially true of the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, that connects the lower jaw to the rest of the skull. TMJ disorders cause no end of discomfort, and they can make it difficult to open and close your mouth. If you set up a visit with Dr. Waheed, he can diagnose your TMJ disorder and offer an appropriate form of TMJ therapy in our Panama City, FL dental office, so you can stop the pain and give your jaw time to heal.

Why Choose Baldwin Family Dental for TMJ Therapy?

  • Expertly Designed Oral Appliances
  • BOTOX Injections Available
  • Focus on Patient Comfort First

Diagnosis & Treatment

X-ray of jaw and skull used for T M J therapy diagnosis and treatment planning

There are a few different causes of TMJ disorders, and the symptoms aren’t exactly the same in each case. Common signs of a damaged jaw joint include:

  • Pain and tenderness around the jaw
  • A clicking or popping sound in the jaw joints
  • Your mouth locking in place periodically
  • Discomfort located around the ear

Let us know during your next checkup if you’ve experienced any of these symptoms. We can check for signs of a TMJ disorder and develop a treatment plan accordingly.

Occlusal Splints

hand holding occlusal splint

An occlusal splint resembles a mouthguard that you might wear for sports. The appliance is designed to readjust the resting position of the upper and lower jaw so that less stress is placed on the jaw while your mouth is closed. It also offers protection against nighttime grinding of the teeth, which is often linked to TMJ disorders. If you wear your splint long enough, the adjustments to the jaw will eventually become permanent, thus resolving the source of your pain.

BOTOX Injections

Closeup of patient receiving Botox injections

BOTOX works by temporarily paralyzing certain muscles in your face so that they no longer make unconscious contractions. This treatment is usually performed to smooth out wrinkles, but in recent years it has been shown to help treat TMJ disorders as well. A quick injection will relieve the tension in the joint and stop the movements that are contributing to your headaches and jaw pain. Full relief can take up to a week, but many people start feeling better within the first couple of days.

TMJ Treatment FAQs

Wooden blocks spelling out the letters TMJ

Here at Baldwin Family Dental, we can help you and your loved ones overcome the chronic pain that comes with TMJ disorder. It’s important to make sure that you’re as educated as possible about the treatment you receive, so if there’s anything you don’t understand about your options for TMJ therapy, we ask that you bring it to our attention right away. The FAQs below can be a good starting point for anyone who wants to learn more about how our office deals with TMJ issues.

How Long Does It Take for BOTOX Injections to Work for TMJ Disorder?

You should normally start seeing an improvement in your symptoms within a few days of your BOTOX treatment. There might be some bruising or swelling at first, but it shouldn’t be too long before these side effects go away on their own.

Generally speaking, BOTOX can be expected to provide about three to six months’ worth of relief from TMJ disorder. The exact timeline will depend on how severe your TMJ disorder was to begin with. Also, many patients find that the results last longer if they have the necessary injections performed within a couple of weeks of each other.

How Long Does It Take for a TMJ Splint to Work?

It can take around three to six months on average for an occlusal splint to fully resolve the pain associated with a TMJ disorder. However, that doesn’t mean you have to wait that long to start seeing improvements in your situation. Many patients experience a decrease in their discomfort shortly after they start wearing their splint every night, and considerable progress is typically made by the six-week mark.

Every patient is unique, so be aware that recovery time tends to vary from case to case. Some people might have to wait longer than others for the desired results of their occlusal splint therapy.

Can TMJ Be Cured Permanently?

When you’re first told that you have a TMJ disorder, you might be afraid that you’ll need to deal with it for the rest of your life. However, in many cases the condition is reversible. By wearing an occlusal splint, you can correct jaw misalignment and other potential causes of TMJ disorder, thus providing a long-term solution for your jaw pain. With BOTOX, the relief is generally temporary, so it’s best used to help patients stay comfortable while they have other kinds of TMJ therapy done.

Is TMJ Treatment Covered by Insurance?

The question of whether insurance will help pay for TMJ therapy can be a somewhat complicated one. Your treatment might be covered by either medical or dental insurance based on what’s causing the problem and what kind of treatment you need. Also, some insurance companies may not cover TMJ treatments at all unless they’re required to. And even if coverage is offered, it might only apply to certain procedures. Speak with your insurance provider to make sure that you understand how TMJ therapy is handled under your current plan.