As you can probably tell, jaw pain isn't fun, nor is it an experience anyone wants to go through. There are plenty of treatment options for patients suffering from jaw pain, ranging from temporary treatments to get you through the day to more long-lasting options. But did you know that you can turn to Botox injections to help with relaxing the muscles in your jaw?
Most patients are unaware of this potential solution and likely have many questions about its efficacy. How effective is Botox, and can it really improve your condition in a meaningful way? How often can you get Botox treatments? Believe it or not, Botox can be the solution you’ve been looking for to relieve your ailing jaw.
What is Botox?
Botox — or botulinum toxin type A — has been professionally administered for years and is mostly known for its beauty benefits. It typically has been used to rid wrinkles and fine lines on the face due to its ability to prevent nerve cell signals from reaching your muscles. Botox has been used for many therapeutic conditions for years and is a treatment for over 20 different medical conditions. Medical professionals now turn to Botox as a solution for jaw pain, as a way to relax the jaw muscles and ease the stress placed on your jaw.
What Does a Misaligned Jaw Mean?
To truly understand how Botox can impact your health, you should understand what it means to have pain in your jaw. Temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ, is characterized by muscle tightening and pain in the joint of the same name that acts as a hinge when you chew and speak. TMJ disorder is often reactive to stress that causes your muscles to tighten up and causes tremendous facial pain and pain in your facial muscles.
TMJ is also characterized by issues in your jaw and face, such as:
Aching or pain around the ear
Difficulty chewing
Locking of the joint in place for extended periods
Ringing in your ears
Headaches and migraines
How Can Botox Affect Your Ailing Jaw?
As you can probably tell, an ailing jaw can be annoying, painful, and stressful. Botox treatment for TMJ can be highly effective in helping reduce the pain you feel in your jaw. Studies are aplenty on the therapeutic impact of Botox, and patients who have taken this treatment noticed that they have significantly reduced pain and increased movement within their jaw over time.
Because of the quickness and ease of Botox treatments, patients leave feeling little to no pain in the injection site and report results within a few days of treatment. You can begin regular activities almost instantly, and your medical professional can work with you to identify what amount of shots you need to be treated effectively. A typical Botox treatment for TMJ would last about 3-4 months.
Are There Any Side Effects to Be Aware Of?
While there are a few side effects of TMJ, they are relatively minor in severity. Bruising and redness in your injection sites are typical symptoms, as well as weakness in your muscles and discomfort and dizziness. The right professional will always have your history medically reviewed and identify your risk factors and the likelihood of experiencing these side effects.
Turn to the Right Cosmetic Dentistry for Your Botox Treatments
Treating TMJ disorder should be done by a medical professional educated on the impact of Botox treatments on your health. Aesthetic Smiles is a top-tier family dentistry specializing in providing some of the best Botox treatments in Portland. We are also a TMJ specialist in Portland, Oregon, showing that we can provide expertise in both fields to provide you with adequate care for your jaw pain. Reach out to us today for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment for your misaligned jaw, and get Botox treatments to help ease your jaw pain symptoms.