Botox for TMJ: All About Dental Botox

Many people know Botox as a beauty treatment that removes frown lines and wrinkles through injections. But Botox is also used for a myriad of medical treatments. 

Botox injections can relax muscles by disrupting the nerve communication between your brain and your muscles to stop them from contracting. Botox's use for medical therapies can be traced back to the mid-1800s when this bacterial poison, botulinum toxin, was speculated to disrupt signals in the nervous system by a German physician named Dr. Justinus Kerner. After much testing and more discoveries, the FDA approved it for medical use under the name Botox in 1989.

In modern times, Botox is also used to provide pain relief for dentistry ailments, such as temporomandibular joint disorders, which is commonly referred to as TMJ.

Botox is used to treat over 20 different medical conditions that affect muscles. TMJ, a painful muscular disorder, causes several different symptoms as the jaw muscles tighten from stress or strain, leading to:

• Chronic headaches and migraines
• Pain when chewing
• Jaw stiffness
• Painful clicking or popping when opening and closing the jaw

Botox is highly effective in relieving pain in the jaw, face, and general head area by preventing the powerful muscles in your jaw from contracting. While Botox is used to relieve TMJ symptoms, dentists also use Botox to treat: 

• Bruxism
• Mandibular spasms
• Trismus, or lockjaw
• Discomfort from dentures
  

While 6 million treatments of Botox are administered every year, it is not free from side effects. Fortunately, just as the benefits from Botox treatments are not permanent, negative effects are likely to be temporary. In general, Botox is considered to be a safe treatment for many patients. However, Botox is not safe for everyone, especially those who are:

• Pregnant
• Nursing
• Have a history of allergic reactions to Botox
• Have a history of neurological diseases

Your dentist will carefully inject Botox into your masseter, temporalis, and pterygoid muscles with a recommended dosage of diluted 200 units/4 mL or 100 units/2 mL to relieve chronic migraine pain associated with TMJ. 

While it is rare, the injection of the masseter muscle can leave your mouth with a fixed smile. This negative side effect will wear off six to eight weeks after treatment. 

Bruxism is a condition that causes you to grind or clench your teeth either during the day or at night while you sleep. While it is a common problem, it causes many negative results, such as:

• Damaged teeth
• Sore jaw muscles
• Headaches

While patients with TMJ can also suffer from bruxism, both disorders can occur without the other. When Botox is injected into the chewing muscles around the jaw, the jaw relaxes, and the teeth unclench. Because these muscles are responsible for moving the jaw, the now relaxed muscles do not involuntarily move the teeth back and forth while your mind is occupied. 

Even temporary relief is more than welcome for anyone suffering from painful headaches or face and jaw pain. Because the pain from TMJ can be constant and does not always respond to over-the-counter painkillers, it leaves those who suffer from this disorder desperate for relief. 

A 2003 study shows a 90% improvement in pain due to chronic headaches and face pain in patients who do not respond well to other forms of pain management. By forcing the muscles around your jaw to relax through Botox, you may discover more benefits than pain relief. Other patient-reported benefits from Botox treatments include:

• Less anxiety
• Better sleep
• Less tooth sensitivity 

The cost of Botox depends on the number of injections you need to relax your jaw and other facial muscles. Most insurance companies will not pay for Botox because the FDA has not yet approved its use to treat TMJ. You can expect to pay anywhere from $500-$1500 for a Botox treatment out of pocket. 

After receiving injections in your jaw muscles, particularly the large masseter muscle at the hinge of your jaw, pain relief, and increased mouth movement will last between three or four months. While the procedure only takes under 30 minutes to complete, you can expect to start feeling relief and full results within a couple of days. People often report significant reduction in pain levels. 

Using Botox to relieve pain associated with TMJ is not a permanent solution. Stress significantly increases TMJ symptoms because as people tense up, they often clench their teeth. Finding lifestyle solutions that can relax your muscles and relieve stress can help you reduce TMJ pain naturally. A few things you can try to relieve stress are:

• Yoga or stretching
• Acupuncture
• Applying hot and cold compresses
• Meditation
• Cognitive behavior therapy

Depending on where your TMJ pain is located, you may receive injections not only in your jaw muscles but in your forehead muscles and temples. There can be pain, redness, or even bruising at the injection sites that last up to a week after the procedure. Other more alarming side effects include:

• Eyelids temporarily drooping
• Respiratory infection
• Nausea
• Headache
• Weakened muscles 

If you are suffering from TMJ symptoms that leave you with persistent headaches or jaw and face pain, talk with your dentist about possible solutions, including Botox injections to relieve the pain. If you do not have a dentist, Smile Generation can help you find the perfect dentist for you and your family. Use the Find a Dentist tool to search for dentists in your area.