Have you tried everything to relieve your bruxism (grinding) and are still plagued with the resulting headaches or tightness and soreness of your jaw muscles?
A study presented by Dr. Joseph Jankovic, professor of neurology at Baylor College of Medicine, offers an alternative. A small group of patients (thirteen) were injected with botulinum toxin (Botox) directly into the TMJ joint. Forty-six percent of the patients reported significant improvement. Two of those patients had a lop-sided smile afterward, however, this abated after a couple of weeks. Though the study was very small by research standards, the results are intriguing. Still, I would not recommend this as a first course of action. It is expensive and yields only a temporary result, and for others does not work at all.
Nightguards in Pike Creek, DE
A more dependable treatment is the use of a custom-fitted nightguard, a small plastic mouthpiece that can be fitted comfortably on either the upper or lower jaw. Over the counter nightguards are available, but they are usually much bulkier and not as comfortable. Nightguards prevent enamel wear during sleep, reduce muscle cramping, and protects the cushion that supports the joint.
It is always interesting to take a look at new modalities.
