Facial Injectables in Paddington
Do you wake up with a sore jaw? Have you been diagnosed with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders? Clenching and grinding your teeth (bruxism) can be painful, causing tension in your jaw as well as headaches, migraines, shoulder and neck tension or even tinnitus. They can also damage your teeth, break dental work, cause difficulty speaking or chewing and in general negatively affect your quality of life.
At Red Hill Dental, we offer a variety of services to help with your TMJ issues. One of the most popular approaches for this condition is facial injectables.
What Are They?
Injectables are made of purified forms of botulinum toxin type A, which are injected into the overactive facial muscles of the temporomandibular joint to relax them. These injectables are approved by the Australian Dental Association for teeth grinding, clenching and other TMJ disorders.
Reprogramming the Muscles
In most cases, grinding begins as a result of stress. But soon, the muscles “learn” that they are supposed to clench or grind when they’re in a certain position—and then, even after the stress is gone, the grinding continues. Muscle memory turns the grinding into a pattern that persists because it’s what the muscles are now trained to do.
We can use a mouthguard to protect your teeth and dental work from damage due to grinding, but to stop the grinding itself, we need to retrain the muscles.
The facial injectables work to relax the jaw muscles. When combined with a dental splint, which prevents your jaw from getting into the position that triggers the clenching pattern, injectables can be helpful in reprogramming the muscles to break their pattern of grinding and clenching.
Injectables may also be combined with other treatment options for TMJ disorders, such as neuromuscular treatments, physical therapy or massage.
What to Expect
Our experienced dentist Dr Henry Ho will sit down with you at a consultation and discuss your specific TMJ issues. He’ll explain possible causes of the condition and what may help in your situation; he may also recommend seeing a facial therapist as part of a comprehensive approach to care. If injectables are an appropriate treatment option for you, he’ll explain the process and answer all of your questions.
Grinding your teeth may be a sign of sleep apnoea or other sleeping disorder. If that’s the case, we may recommend treatment of the sleep disorder before beginning treatment with injectables.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the injection last?
How many injections will I need?
It depends on your specific set of circumstances, how long you’ve been clenching/grinding and other factors. We’ll discuss your condition and treatment plan with you prior to beginning treatments so you know what to expect.
Find Out More Today
Relief from your jaw tension may be just an injection away! Contact us today to book a consultation with Dr Henry and learn more about how facial injectables may help you.
* Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
