Botox injections have been used since the late 1980s. The FDA approved it as an injection treatment for severe frown lines, or “glabellar creases” that occur between the eyebrows. It works by paralyzing the muscles that cause wrinkles and furrows in the skin. With Botox injections for TMJ, Dr. Wade will administer small amounts of the toxin into areas related to your TMJ problem, often with a local anesthetic. This protects you from feeling pain during treatment and helps prevent any side effects from affecting your smile or facial expressions .
Read on to learn more about Is Botox For Tmj Dangerous, What To Expect During Botox Treatment
Is Botox For Tmj Dangerous
You have undoubtedly heard of Botox injections used to enhance lips, cheeks, etc., or to smooth out wrinkles across the forehead or around the eyes. But you may not be familiar with the use of Botox as a relief from the pain of TMJ disorder.
TMJ disorders affect the jaw joint and surrounding facial muscles. At best, a TMJ disorder can cause chronic jaw pain, and at worst, it can result in a host of vague symptoms that can go undiagnosed for months, even years.
The symptoms of TMJ disorders affect more than your teeth and jaw. This is another reason why a holistic and biological approach is best.
WHAT IS TMJ?
TMJ, also known as TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder), occurs due to the temporomandibular joint becoming displaced or swollen from specific stressors.
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) can be found on both sides of the head where the skull and jawbone meet.
For a moment, place 2 fingers on either side of your face, just in front of your ears. Then open your mouth, swallow, or speak. You know, activities in which you engage throughout the day and even though the night if you grind or clench your teeth in your sleep.
You will quickly note how vital the jaw muscles are in typical head and neck movements.
TMJ SYMPTOMS
The most common symptoms of TMJ include:
- Jaw pain (may be achy or sharp)
- Popping or clicking in the jaw when chewing or talking (can often be painful)
- Limited ability to open or close the jaw (lockjaw)
- Swelling in the face
- Neck and/or shoulder pain
- Headaches/migraines and toothaches
- Earaches and ringing in the ears
TMJ CAUSES
The most common causes are teeth grinding (bruxism), clenching your teeth, and even heavy or aggressive chewing of tough or crunchy foods.
Possibly a more familiar term, lockjaw, is a more severe result of TMJ when stress on the jaw actually causes it to lock and keeps you from opening your mouth very wide.
Other types of stress, unrelated to the use of the jaw muscles, can also increase the discomfort of TMJ.
When under pressure from work, school, or just a hectic life, you may realize the muscles around the face and neck are tense. Your teeth may be clenched tight together.
These are important things to notice and address because they all contribute to the symptoms of TMD.
CAN BOTOX TREAT TMJ?
The short answer is, yes, the use of botox may temporarily solve the problem of TMJ. However, botox injections are considered an alternative treatment of TMD. Botox does not treat the root cause of the TMJ.
But if injections are successful in relieving TMJ pain and discomfort, you’ll be in a better place to discuss other treatment options, such as realigning your bite or fitting a DNA appliance.
What To Expect During Botox Treatment
Before your first Botox treatment your neurologist should discuss the side effects and risks. This is a good time to ask questions and check if they follow the established Botox protocol for chronic migraine.
Your neurologist uses a small needle to inject 0.1ml or 5 units of Botox at each site just under your skin. You may feel a slight sting with each injection. Because Botox comes in 100 unit vials some neurologists may do a few more injections around areas where you experience your migraine pain.
The treatment takes about 15–20 minutes and there aren’t any restrictions on driving or other daily activities after treatment.
It’s important to remember Botox isn’t a quick fix for migraine. It often takes 2 or 3 treatments to notice if it’s effective in reducing the frequency or intensity of your migraine pain. Botox treatment is repeated every 12 weeks, which means it may take 6–9 months to notice any difference. Some people have reported improvements after their first treatment, so like many migraine treatments results are very individualised.
Many people report the benefits of Botox start to wear off after about 10 weeks, and the intensity and frequency of their migraine attacks increase close to their next treatment date.
You don’t need to stop taking other preventative medications with Botox treatments and you can continue to use abortive medications if you need them.
If after 3 treatments your migraine headaches haven’t improved, Botox may not be the right treatment for you.
ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS FOR TMJ
After careful examination, your dentist may recommend other treatment options such as:
- DNA appliance (which can address the root cause of sleep apnea and may relieve pain from nighttime teeth grinding)
- Mouthguard/night guard (I do not recommend this, as it does not address the root cause of the condition)
- Dry needling
- Muscle relaxers
- OTC meds like pain relievers and anti-inflammatories
- Physical therapy
- Open-joint surgery to repair or replace the joint
- Arthroscopy (minimally invasive surgery)
- Arthrocentesis (a minimally invasive procedure that helps remove debris and inflammatory byproducts from the jaw)
- Surgery on the mandible joint
- Acupuncture
- Other relaxation techniques
WHAT IS THE SAFEST TREATMENT FOR TMJ?
Botox may temporarily help with TMJ. Some studies support this, but most practitioners agree that more in-depth research is needed.
However, as I mentioned above, it comes with risks besides the possible pain/discomfort around the injection site. Depending on your personal experience, you may be willing to take the risk.
- Headache
- Respiratory infection
- Flu-like symptoms/illness
- Nausea
- Temporary eyelid droop
As with any treatment you consider, I encourage you to ask questions and discover all you can about the treatment options available.