In patients suffering from symptoms of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, Botox can help relax tight jaw muscles and provide relief. Botox is injected into the muscles of the jaw, forehead, and temple, depending on the symptoms. This will cause limited jaw function, which can reduce pain and decrease TMJ symptoms. However, the effects of Botox are only temporary and will require more injections for continued relief.
Since Botox is not approved by the FDA for the treatment of TMJ, insurance may not cover it. If you are considering using Botox to treat your TMJ disorder, it is important to understand that it is only a temporary solution. Botox will relax the muscle and relieve tension in the jaw, but within a few months it is likely that TMJ symptoms will return again. Botox treatment for TMJ disorder can improve overall quality of life, allowing patients to do smaller things such as eating, chewing, and smiling as they should.
It can also reduce pain by more than 60% with the first session. However, it is important to note that Botox is generally recommended as an adjunct treatment to other TMJ therapies, such as night guards or physical therapy. Currently, Botox is used to treat more than 20 different medical conditions, and more than 6 million Botox treatments are administered each year. Only target areas injected with Botox will be “relaxed” and injections should not affect other areas of the body.
If you are tired of waking up with jaw pain or battling daily headaches, you should talk to your healthcare provider about long-term TMJ treatment options.
