Can Botox Treat Your TMJ Symptoms?

TMJ symptoms can strike at any age. The condition afflicts people from young children to seniors. Fortunately, modern dental medicine has many effective treatment options. One of the newest is Botox®, which has shown great promise in helping sufferers to find relief.

What is TMJ?

The term TMJ refers to a condition that affects the temporomandibular joint, which is the band of elastic muscles and nerves that connects your upper and lower jaw. As you can imagine, this joint does a lot of work in the course of an ordinary day. Talking, chewing food, or simply opening your mouth all involve this critical part of the body. Over time, this can cause symptoms such as these:

• Pain or difficulty opening or closing our mouth.
• Soreness in the ears, jaw, gums, or cheeks.
• Headaches that have no apparent cause.
• Pain, soreness, or tightness in the neck or back.
• Persistent emotional tension.
• Worn, chipped, or misaligned teeth.
• Depression, anxiety, or insomnia.

Common Types of TMJ Treatment

Some of the more common options for treating TMJ include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
• Muscle relaxers.
• Neck or back massage.
• Systematic relaxation techniques.
• Biofeedback to develop control of individual muscles.
• Nighttime mouthguards to prevent tooth grinding.
• Dental bridges, crowns, veneers, or implants to correct tooth damage.

The first step to enjoying relief from TMJ is to make an appointment with your dentist. He or she will perform a complete oral exam and determine if treatment for TMJ is what you need.

Botox® for TMJ: Does it Work?

Botox® has become a hot topic in the media over the last few years. The medication is normally associated with Hollywood celebrities and other people with a prominent public profile. While it’s primarily used as a sort of injectable facelift, a growing body of evidence strongly suggests that Botox® can also relieve symptoms of TMJ.

Botox® accomplishes this purpose by relaxing the inflamed muscles and nerves in the temporomandibular joint. Effects can be almost immediate. Many patients report lasting relief from their TMJ symptoms after receiving the injection.

The discomfort associated with receiving a Botox® injection is, for most people, on a par with receiving any other injectable medication. Some patients report tiredness or mild flu-like symptoms for a day or two afterwards. Contact your dentist right away if you notice any unusual side effects.

The number of injections required to treat your TMJ symptoms will be determined by your dentist. Prolonged therapy is rarely needed.

Botox® can be used as a stand-alone treatment for TMJ or in conjunction with the other options discussed in this post. Many patients report reduction of wrinkles, especially in the skin around the mouth. It’s important to remember that dental use of Botox® is intended primarily for therapeutic, not cosmetic, purposes.

Only your dentist can prescribe a course of TMJ treatment. Talk to him or her soon about your therapeutic options. Relief from the pain and discomfort of TMJ is possible. There is no better way to greet the future with a smile on your face.

About the Author

Dr. Kenneth J. Canzoneri is a skilled cosmetic dentist, who is proud to serve the people of Arcadia and the surrounding area. Dr. Canzoneri earned his DDS degree from Northwestern Dental School before opening his private practice. You can reach his office online or by calling (626) 446-1679.