TMJ News Bites

 

Volume 3, Number 1

 

Botulinum Toxin "Botox" Safety Alert

 

The number of people telling us that they are being recommended Botox injections for their TMJ disorder has increased dramatically over the past few years so we thought this article and the FDA safety alert were timely and important for you to read.

 

The use of Botox to treat TMJ disorders is currently being done off-label. Patients should be advised that  products used off-label are not approved by the FDA and the FDA has not evaluated the safety or efficacy of the off-label use.

The Cochrane Collaboration, an international and highly regarded agency conducting scientific reviews of clinical interventions of products used in the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of diseases, has recently completed a study of the use of botulinum toxin type A in masseter muscle hypertrophy. The reviewers concluded that there simply were not enough high quality studies to properly evaluate the toxin's effectiveness nor its potential harms, and called for future research sufficient to provide evidence for people to make informed decisions about its use. Click here to read full story. 

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A Great Gift Idea

 

Looking for a gift that has personal meaning and will also make the world a better place? A TMJ wristband is not just a durable and stylish accessory--it also promotes awareness! Make a donation in your family member's honor and you'll give a gift that shows you understand and care. At the same time, your contribution will help us continue working toward our vision of a world where no one suffers from TMJDs. With your good will and support, we're changing the face of TMJ.

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Attention Mothers, Fathers, and Children

 

In honor of Mother's Day and Father's Day, an upcoming issue of TMJ News Bites will feature a segment about parenting while dealing with TMJDs. We'd love to hear your experiences and share them with readers of both our newsletter and Web site. How do you compensate on bad days? Do you find that because of your condition, your children are more independent or empathetic than others their age? If you're the child or spouse of a parent with TMJDs, how has this affected your life? Feel free to address these questions, or just tell your story in your own way.  By sharing your experience and valuable coping techniques we can all learn from one another.

We look forward to hearing from you.  Please include your name, city and state in which you live. We would also love to have a photo of you and your family to post along with  your story.  E-mail stories and photos to: info@tmj.org and put "Story Request" in the subject heading.

 

Thank you in advance for sharing your story.

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Overlapping Conditions Meeting in Milwaukee

 

The TMJ Association (TMJA) and the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD) hosted a meeting on Overlapping Medical Conditions at the Crowne Plaza Milwaukee-Wauwatosa (WI) Hotel on April 28^th.  The meeting drew a large crowd eager to hear three guest speakers talk about the relationship among a number of medical conditions, any one of which can co-occur with one or more of the other in the same individual.  Highlighted were; Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Endometriosis, Fibromyalgia, Interstitial Cystitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Temporomandibular Joint and Muscle Disorders and Vulvodynia.  Click here to read full story.

 

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How to Talk to Your Doctor

 

Dr. Lin Chang, a Professor of Medicine at UCLA, spoke at the Overlapping Medical Conditions Meeting in Milwaukee on April 28^th, 2009 on the topic: How to Talk to Your Doctor--You Are Not Alone.  Her suggestions would be helpful to any patient, but especially one with chronic conditions like TMJDs, which require an ongoing relationship with a physician. Click here to read the highlights from her excellent talk.

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TMJ News Bites Archive 

 

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