Treating TMJ and TMD with Botox

I’ve had many Botox come to me for various reasons but I‘ve recently seen an increase in clients coming to me for pain management. One of these conditions that I have seen benefiting the most from this procedure is TMJ/TMD.

What is TMJ and TMD?

When people are complaining about TMJ, they are usually speaking of pain in the joint that connects the jaw bone to the skull. Overtime, because of many different factors, the joint becomes weak and causes pain at its connection point and surrounding tissues. This is called TMD, or Temporomandibular Disorder, and symptoms can include painful clicking, popping, limited opening of the jaw, and even grinding sounds when eating, yawning, or speaking.

According to the National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research, more than 10 million Americans suffer from the disorder and aren’t left with many options to treat it the chronic condition. Depending on the underlying cause, doctors may prescribe medications, such as muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatories, or suggest a mouth guard or physical therapy to manage it.

Can Botox Help?

Can Botox be quick solution to the pain TMJ and TMD suffers are experiencing? Yes. Allure recently asked the same question to New York City-based plastic surgeon, David Shafer who traveled to Japan with Allegran, makers of Botox, to learn about the treatment. “Botox is good for that,” he said. “I’ve injected patients (and myself) and there’s relief from pain and swelling.”

Aside for aiding in pain relief, Injections of Botox can be used to not only help the face return to its normal shape, but also restore facial expressions. In some cases of TMD, patients develop a square-faced appearance due to the overuse of the masseter muscle (the one used to chew). While regular injections can’t magically cure the condition, it can certainly help. In some cases, TMJ is a learned behavioral response, which could’ve come from clenching or grinding. According to Ask the Dentist, receiving Botox injections can help erase the memory by “resetting” the muscle.

What Does the Procedure Look Like?

If you come into SkinSpaMED for the procedure, it won’t look much different from a normal Botox appointment. Three small injections will be made to both sides of the jaw and surrounding muscles. Unlike cosmetic injections where you see almost immediate results, the injections are made into the masseter muscle, which is much larger. Therefore, patients typically see results in about 1 to 2 weeks.

If you are interested in using Botox to treat your pain, SkinSpaMED is here to help. To schedule an appointment, or to learn more about Botox, visit the SkinSpaMED website or call our Dallas spa at (972) 392-3895, or Colleyville at (817) 281-8181.