THERAPEUTIC BOTOX AND TMD

Do you suffer from muscle tension and headaches? Are you clenching and grinding?

Therapeutic Botox® treatment for TMJ and Jaw Tension may be the treatment you were looking for. You may have heard about Therapeutic Botox in the treatment of jaw pain and tension headaches from clenching and grinding. Perhaps you have already tried traditional remedies such as night guards, massages, and anti-inflammatory medications, and are still in pain. Therapeutic Botox is considered a novel treatment to address jaw pain. We have compiled a list of FAQ's to help answer your questions about this procedure.
 

What is TMD?

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is located on both sides of your head where the jaw bone meets the skull. This joint is used when talking, eating, swallowing and other daily activities. When this joint becomes overworked through excessive grinding or clenching, you may suffer severe tension headaches, sharp pain of the jaw, facial muscle aches and even pain/sensitivity in your teeth. When you have pain in the jaw joint, we call this TMD, or Temporomandibular Disorder.

What is Therapeutic Botox® and how does it help my TMJ?

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Botox® is commonly used to lessen the tell-tale signs of aging, such as wrinkles and frown lines, however recently these injections are being used more frequently in dental procedures as an alternative treatment for TMJ, tension headaches, clenching/grinding and sleep bruxism. Therapeutic Botox® relieves tension by making the muscle unable to engage in the powerful, often unconscious movement. Patients who have received injections experience significant improvements in pain, function, ability to open their mouth and levels of tenderness.

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What’s involved in Therapeutic Botox® TMJ treatment?

Botox® can be injected into the temporalis and masseter muscles and works by blocking nerve signals that cause uncontrollable muscle movements, eventually relaxing the muscles. You can expect results 2-3 weeks from the time of treatment and it can remain effective for anywhere between two and six months depending on the patient. After several treatments, patients report a decreased need for touch ups and this will depend on the severity of your condition as well as metabolism.

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Benefits and Risks of Therapeutic Botox® treatment

Therapeutic Botox® injections can often provide substantial relief to those suffering from soreness and pain of the TMJ while reducing the ability of muscles to engage in problematic grinding, which can also slow down worn down teeth.The potential side effects of Therapeutic Botox® treatment are mild, and usually go away within a few hours or days after treatment. Potential side effects include: inflammation, bleeding, bruising, swelling, muscle weakness, pain at injection site and allergic reactions.

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Is it covered by my insurance?

Many insurances do cover Therapeutic Botox in the treatment of TMD. Our staff are experienced with submitting estimates and can do so on your behalf to assist you, just ask us!