With stress at an all-time high these days, we are seeing a record number of patients presenting with emergencies related to teeth grinding - from cracked teeth to acute jaw pain and headaches.
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There are many treatment options for jaw pain due to temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD). Which treatment is chosen depends on the cause, severity and timing of the symptoms.
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😬 NIGHTGUARD is the most common and least invasive option. Wearing a nightguard helps reduce the tension to the jaw joints during involuntary night time grinding by providing a more balance “bite”. It also helps protect the teeth from being worn down over time as a physical barrier.
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💉 BOTOX injections can be done to weaken the muscles that are involved in grinding and clenching. It works well for patients who are also day time clenches and those who cannot tolerate wearing a nightguard. However, the effects are temporary and injections have to be repeated every few months.
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💆🏻♀️ MUSCLE THERAPY like physiotherapy, chiropractics and acupuncture may help alleviate some symptoms of TMD.
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💊 MEDICATIONS like anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxant will help with acute symptoms. Anti-depressants may help with the chronic pain many patients experience.
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🏥 JAW SURGERY may be a last resort when more conventional therapies are not helping, especially in cases of traumatic jaw injuries and advances degenerative conditions like arthritis.
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