Vicki Vida Kestler, DDS

American Academy of Facial Esthetics Certified Dentist

In the realm of dentistry, facial aesthetics encompasses a variety of non-surgical approaches, including dermal fillers, botulinum injections, and other sophisticated aesthetic technologies. While these treatments indeed offer significant cosmetic improvements, such as a youthful, rejuvenated look and an enhanced smile, their scope goes beyond mere appearance. Facial aesthetics in dentistry also serves as a crucial therapeutic tool in managing serious dental conditions like TMJ disorders and bruxism. These conditions often present with symptoms of persistent pain, discomfort, and headaches. By directly addressing and treating these conditions, facial aesthetic procedures contribute to more than just a beautiful smile—they play a pivotal role in pain alleviation and overall dental health improvement.

Botulinum Toxin Treatment for Bruxism

Teeth Grinding

Bruxism is the medical term for unconscious teeth clenching and grinding, either while awake or asleep, which can lead to physical painful and severe dental problems. Chronic teeth grinding can cause headache, earaches, facial pain, and even migraines. Dental problems from bruxism include lose of tooth enamel, increased tooth sensitivity, and flattening and/or chipping of the teeth. Bruxism sufferers who grind and clench their teeth while sleeping frequently wake up with a sore jaw. Hypertrophy of the masseter muscle, which may lead to the appearance of a severe square jaw, is another side effect of bruxism. Treatments with Botulinum Toxin Type A., commonly known as botulinum toxin, can provide tremendous relief from jaw soreness, headaches, and other unpleasant problems associated with Bruxism. Botulinum toxin treatments for Bruxism can also soften the appearance of the jaw line.

Botulinum Toxin Treatment for TMJ

TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint)

The temporomandibular joints connect the jawbone to the skull. Located at the sides of the head near each ear, these joints play an essential role in eating, speaking, and making facial expressions. In fact, the tmj joint is one of the most frequently used and complex joints in the entire body.

TMJ symptoms can happen when the temporomandibular joints stop working properly. This can happen for many reasons and result in chronic ear pain, jaw stiffness and soreness, difficulty opening the mouth, jaw popping or jaw clicking, and neck pain migraine headaches. Sufferers of TMJ pain may experience either sharp pain or a dull, constant ache.

These symptoms can help physicians effectively give TMJ treatment options for sufferers of TMJ pain, based on each patient’s unique needs. General dentists, are typically sought for TMJ diagnosis and care. These health care professionals can provide more information on what causes the condition, how it is treated, and other TMJ topics.

Symptoms

TMJ syndrome is a condition that occurs when the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) that connects the upper and lower jaw is misaligned or stressed. This can cause pain in the jaw, the face, and in extreme cases, can also cause neck pain and shoulder pain. Once the causes have been determined, there are a multitude of TMJ treatment options available from dentists, including pain relief through the application of mouth guards, bite therapy, and TMJ exercises.

Treatment for TMJ Pain

TMJ treatment, referred to by some dentists as TMJ therapy, includes many options. Some of the options are mouth guards, bite therapy and TMJ exercises. This painful condition of the jaw and neck area can also be alleviated by injecting Botulinum Toxin into the sight. The tension and pain associated with TMJ is relaxed as a result. The Botulinum Toxin can be used as a chronic pain treatment to alleviate TMJ headaches and all other pain and discomfort associated with TMJ.

"This team is an Olympic quality dental group! Everyone is kind, professional, knowledgeable, efficient, and friendly.

"I do enjoy going to the office, Staff is friendly, extremely competent and enjoyable to be around. Highly recommend the office to anyone looking for a dentist."

"Yes I would recommend Dr. Kestler to all friends and family. Her equipment is new with the best technology for perfect crowns every time. No waiting for a dental lab as she has a 3-D dental printer. She is easy to talk to and understanding. Thank you!!!!