At Flanigan Dentistry we perform BOTOX and Dysport injections in the strong muscles of the jaw and/or head to relieve symptoms associated with temporomandibular dysfunction (commonly referred to as TMJ or TMD). TMD is a dysfunction of either the temporomandibular joint or the muscles surrounding this area. Common symptoms include pain in the jaw and/or temple regions, clicking and locking of the jaw, difficulty chewing, and even tension headaches.
Commonly, patients with TMD frequently clench their jaw and/or grind their teeth. During these types of activities, there are four muscles that work together to pull the jaw down and back up again. The masseter muscle is one of the strongest muscles in this group and is located on the side of the face in between your lower jawbone and your cheekbone. Individuals who clench/grind their teeth, either while sleeping or awake, may even develop a squared appearance to the jaw due to a bulging masseter muscle. The masseter is the main muscle that is injected with BOTOX for TMD symptoms. BOTOX for TMD works by immobilizing the muscles so that you cannot clench or grind your teeth with such strong force. However, this does not affect your ability to chew food normally. Many times some improvement can be felt within a day or two of treatment, however, it usually takes 7 days and can take up to 14 days to get the full benefit from this treatment.
During your consultation, we will discuss whether or not you are a good candidate for this therapy and exactly how many units of BOTOX are appropriate for you. If you do move forward with treatment, the injections typically only take about 5 minutes to complete and are nearly painless. People who have had BOTOX treatment for TMD may return to their regular activities immediately after their appointment. We recommend that you do not rub or press on the area that has been injected and you do not exercise for about 24 hours after the treatment in order to keep the BOTOX in its intended location.
