What is Botox®?
Botox® is the name of the drug that’s made from a toxin in Clostridium botulinum. This is a type of bacteria that can also cause life-threatening food poisoning. Using the toxin in small doses, it works by paralyzing or weakening muscles or blocking certain nerves. The results can last for 3 to 12 months.
Botox® can help certain symptoms associated with TMJ disorder including:
- Headaches due to teeth grinding
- Lockjaw due to severe stress
- Jaw tension
TMJ Causes Tightness in Jaw
Before we jump into how Botox® can help relieve painful symptoms from TMJ, let’s explore how TMJ affects the jaw joints and surrounding muscles first. TMJ disorders are usually caused by an imbalance in the jaw joints. It can be from a misaligned bite, worn teeth, poor jaw development, and many other reasons. Regardless of the cause, when the jaw joints have an imbalance, it causes the surrounding muscles and tissues to compensate for that imbalance. As a result, your jaw muscles can become strained from trying to correct the imbalance.
The muscles adjacent to the jaw joints span across the face, into the temples, and down into the neck and shoulders. When they’re strained, it can cause severe headaches, migraines, and jaw, neck, and back pain.
If you have TMD, you might also experience other symptoms including:
- Sore cheeks and jaw
- Clicking or popping noise when opening and closing jaw
- Clenching and grinding
- Ringing in ears
- Clogged/fullness in ears
If you suspect having a TMD disorder, we highly encourage you to visit our TMJ dentist in Denver for a comprehensive evaluation and diagnosis. We utilize advanced dental technology to accurately diagnose your disorder. Then, based on the collected data, we will create a treatment plan that works for you. Our goal is to help the jaw muscles relax and help them stay that way. Your treatment plan may involve using the TENS system to relax the muscles, a neuromuscular orthotic to hold your jaw in the correct position while you sleep, and Botox® injections.
Botox® Can Help Relax Jaw Muscles
Oftentimes it’s the tension in the facial and jaw muscles that cause constant migraines, headaches, and pain. By helping these muscles relax and easing their tension, your symptoms will improve. This is where Botox® injections come to play. When Dr. Berry injects Botox® into specific areas of your jaw and face, it will help the correct muscles relax. As a result, your symptoms will improve.
A study from 2012 showed that Botox® greatly decreased pain and improved mouth movement for up to three months after treatment. A different study found a 90% improvement in symptoms of participants.
Botox® Procedure: What To Expect
If you’re getting Botox® for TMJ or headaches, the treatment process is fast and delivers results within one to two days. First, Dr. Kevin Berry will determine how many injections you will need and where he will inject them. You may receive injections throughout your facial muscles including your temple, forehead, and jaw muscles. During the injections, you might feel a pinch but nothing significantly painful.
After your injections are over, you can leave our office and continue with your day as usual. You may experience some redness and bruising at the injection site but this is completely normal.
Get Botox® For Headaches and TMJ in Denver Today
If you suffer from frequent headaches and migraines or TMJ pain and haven’t found a treatment option that works, let our Denver TMJ dentist help. Please call TMJ Therapy & Sleep Center of Colorado today at (303) 691-0267 to book an appointment.