Botox® For TMJ

This condition can be inherited, acquired among people who grind their teeth at night and people who suffer from TMJ disorder, or those who unconsciously use these muscles excessively when stressed.

HOW BOTOX® CAN HELP TMJ AND HEADACHES

The use of Botox® stems from one important goal… relieving TMJ pain and helping you feel your very best.

This disorder was causing pain in his jaw and contributing to his frequent, inconsolable. This condition can be inherited, acquired among people who grind their teeth at night and people who suffer from TMJ disorder, or those who unconsciously use these muscles excessively when stressed. To really understand why Botox® can be an excellent jaw relaxing therapy, let’s take a moment and talk about your TMJ — otherwise known as your temporomandibular joint. This joint acts as a hinge for your mouth, allowing you to chew and speak.

Unfortunately, the TMJ is also very sensitive to stress — whether it’s physical, emotional, or even psychological stress. When you’re stressed, your muscles tense up and can cause a lot of problems for your mouth and jaw:

• Sore cheeks and jaw
• Swelling in your face
• Pain around your neck and ears
• Clicking noise in your jaw when you open and close your mouth
• Headaches or migraines
• Clenching and grinding your teeth (bruxism)
• Ringing in your ears
• Neck and/or shoulder pain
• Shocking type of facial pain

This last point, bruxism, can be an issue even if you’re not suffering from a TMJ disorder. But they often go together.

BOTOX® CAN HELP RELAX THE MUSCLES IN YOUR JAW

Botox® for TMJ can be highly effective and typically recommended as a complementary treatment to other TMJ therapies, like night guards or physical therapy. But there may be cases where a Botox® treatment is all that’s needed to get those muscles to relax.

Once you get those muscles around your TMJ to unclench, you’re going to notice some other changes too.

• The frequency and intensity of headaches will be reduced or disappear
• You might feel less anxious
• You’ll sleep better
• You’ll be protecting your teeth from the effects of bruxism!
• Sensitive teeth may become less sore

HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM A TMJ BOTOX® TREATMENT

We’ll work together to determine the number of injections you’ll benefit from. Typically, the treatment requires us to inject Botox® into your major chewing muscles: the Temple and Masseter muscles, 3 injections per masseter, and 2 per temple muscles on both sides of the face.

• Most of our clients report very little discomfort from these injections. A cold ice pack after treatment will usually feel good.
• You can return to your regular daily activities as soon as you leave the office but avoid rubbing or massaging your face for a few hours.
• You’ll begin to feel some improvements within a day or two of treatment, but more often it takes a week or two before you’ll really start to notice a big difference.
• The treatment will last about 4-6 months.

ARE THERE ANY RISKS TO BOTOX® FOR TMJ?

There are a few reported side effects however, most of these possible side effects are minor, including:

• Redness at the injection sites
• Bruising at the injection site
• Muscle weakness
• Discomfort