TMJ Botox Therapy

Purchase Street Family Dental in Rye, New York offers TMJ Botox therapy to help relieve the symptoms of TMJ. While the cause of TMJ is still under analysis by doctors and scientists, we know for a fact that our therapy here will help with the pain. Botox injections are used to relax the affected areas which will bring comfort to your mouth and remove headaches from the pressure and pain caused by TMJ. The TMJ Botox therapy is nonsurgical and treatment times can vary between visits. Our Botox treatment has set the bar with many successful cases for our patients suffering from this disorder. With us, you can feel a difference.

TMJ Treatment: How it’s Done
We painlessly contract the muscles to determine the best site for injections. We will have you contract the muscle area to be treated so we can determine appropriate injection sites. Then once the area is numb, we will inject the Botox treatment directly into the muscle.

Areas Affected by TMJ Botox Therapy
Areas outside the injection site will not be affected. The injections are mainly in the temporalis, frontalis, and masseter. We will treat TMJ according to where you feel pain and discomfort the most.

How long is the Botox Treatment Procedure?
Normal treatments can last between 10 minutes to a half hour, but every patient is different and will be treated according to severity of TMJ.

Where will Botox treatment be administered?
Right here in our office one of our TMJ Botox Treatment specialists will administer the injections. After the procedure, you can continue your day as you normal would which includes driving and other daily functions.

Is the Botox Treatment Painful?
The only pain you will feel is from the injection site. Pain can be reduced by numbing the injection sits and by applying an anesthetic cream or by using Happy Gas.”

What to Expect After the Botox TMJ Treatment?
After treatment, wrinkles will begin to disappear within 24-48 hours after the injections. Wrinkles will continue to disappear as the week progresses.

Recovery from Botox Therapy for TMJ Treatment
After an injection, you should not do anything strenuous which includes avoiding high volumes of physical activity. This non-invasive, non-surgical treatment will not affect your daily life, you can return to your regular daily activities almost immediately. Consult with one of us to confirm any limitations and to answer any questions you may have.

TMJ Disorder Symptoms

  • Headaches- About 80% of people with a TMJ disorder suffer from headaches and pain is often felt when opening and closing the mouth.
  • Dizziness
  • Sensitive to cold
  • Ringing or pain in ear
  • Sounds-crunching, popping, or grinding sounds can be heard.

TMJ Treatments

  • Jaw Rest – keep teeth apart and avoid chewing gum and eating hard and chewy food
  • Heat and ice therapy – Reduces muscle tension and spasm
  • Medications – Over the counter pain medicines such as aspirin or ibuprofen can help reduce pain and spasms
  • Physical Therapy – Continuously opening and closing the jaw to stimulate muscle strength, massage, and electrical stimulation aid in reducing pain and in increasing function of the temporomandibular joint
  • Occlusal Therapy – A custom-made acrylic appliance worn over the teeth at night to eliminate teeth clenching or grinding
  • Surgery – If in case all medical treatments fail, surgery is the next, and probably last, option. TMJ arthroscopy, ligament tightening, joint restructuring, and joint replacement are some of the surgical procedures that can be performed to correct joint damage or deterioration.

Common Side Effects from TMJ Botox Treatment:

  • Headaches
  • Respiratory infection
  • Flu Syndrome
  • Temporary eye-lid droop
  • Nausea
  • Redness at spot of injection
  • Pain and/or discomfort
  • Muscle weakness

Botox for Migraines
In 2010, the FDA approved Botox as a treatment for chronic migraines or headaches. “Chronic migraine is one of the most disabling forms of headache,” said Russell Katz, M.D., director of the Division of Neurology Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Patients with chronic migraines experience a headache more than 14 days of the month. This condition can greatly affect family, work, and social life, so it is important to have a variety of effective treatment options available.”

Causes of migraines include:

  • Hormonal changes
  • Certain foods, food additives, or drinks
  • Stress
  • Bright lights, sun glare, unusual smells
  • Changes in sleep pattern
  • Changes in the weather

Migraine symptoms include:

  • Moderate to severe pain
  • Blurry vision
  • Nausea, vomiting
  • Loss of appetite
  • Fatigue or dizziness
  • Sensitivity to light or noise

To treat migraines with Botox, every 12 weeks several injections are done around multiple areas of the head in neck in efforts to dull future headaches. Injections reduce symptoms caused by migraines including nausea, vomiting, and light, sound, and smell sensitivity.

Some people who suffer from migraines have adverse reactions to pain medications. In these instances, Botox is an attractive alternative. Certain types of headaches respond better to Botox than others. Patients who report migraines that feel “imploding” (like a squeezing or crushing sensation) typically find more relief than patients who report migraines that feel “exploding.” Migraines due to muscle spasms or tension headaches respond very well to Botox.

Botox is only recommended for patients with chronic migraines – defined as headaches occurring on 15 or more days per month lasting 4 or more hours each, and of which at least half are classified as migraines.

Botox for Bruxism
Bruxism is the medical term for unconscious teeth grinding and clenching. Those who clench or grind do so either awake or asleep and bruxism can lead to severe dental issues – and pain. Many people who suffer from bruxism are unaware they grind their teeth and are told by their partner, dentist, or start experience symptoms. Symptoms of bruxism include headaches, earaches, pain in the face, sore jaw, etc. Bruxism can eventually lead to loss of tooth enamel, tooth sensitivity, and chipped teeth.

Causes of Bruxism:

  • Stress or anxiety
  • Abnormal bite, missing or crooked teeth
  • Sleep disorder/sleep apnea

Treatments for Bruxism:

  • Reducing stress by seeing a counselor, exercising, or using muscle relaxants
  • Night guards (do not cure bruxism but help manage symptoms)
  • Treating sleep disorders
  • Avoiding caffeine and alcohol
  • Avoid chewing on anything that isn’t food
  • Relax the jaw at night with a warm washcloth

Botox has become a viable option for those who suffer from bruxism. Botox is injected directly into the large muscle that moves the jaw. Botox provides symptom relief by targeting and treating muscle activity – essentially helping to partially paralyze/weaken the muscles that grind or clench. Dental devices used to treat bruxism, such as night guards, protect the teeth against grinding but do not address the actual grinding itself.

Although there is no cure yet, Botox can help manage bruxism symptoms and eliminate the need for a night guard. Results from Botox last 3-4 months.

Is Botox Right for Me?
For your dentist to determine if Botox is right for you, it is important to disclose your medical history and understand your symptoms. Botox may have small changes on the appearance of your jaw line – typically making it appear smaller and thinner after several treatments. It also prevents future aging in the jawline and corrects aging lines caused by muscle movement. Years of TMJD or bruxism can lead to a square jaw and Botox helps soften this.

Does Insurance Cover Botox for Dental Issues?
Your medical insurance may cover Botox. Our insurance experts can call your insurance company and find out if it is a covered service, submit documentation for medical necessity and then submit the insurance claims on your behalf.

Side effects of Botox
Similarly, to using Botox for cosmetic reasons, Botox has few side effects. There is risk of bruising, redness, or swelling and some patients report neck pain, headaches, or nausea. Patients who wish to undergo Botox injections should disclose medical history, be in generally good health, not be pregnant or nursing, be infection free, and should not use Botox if you have any allergies to ingredients.

Recovery after Botox Treatments
The entire procedure takes about 10 minutes and does not require anesthesia. Patients can return to daily activities immediately following the procedure. You should avoid physical activity, any makeup, rubbing or massaging the area or laying down for approximately 4 hours after the injections. Most patients begin to feel relief from TMJD, bruxism, or migraines within 3-5 days, though it may take up to 10-14 days. Botox lasts about 3 months and after 2-3 Botox treatments, the muscles should begin to relax for longer periods of time.

Call us at 914-921-5437 to have all of your questions answered by one of our professional team members, schedule an appointment with us today!