What’s Botox Treatment for TMJ Like?

Your Botox® treatment may be a small part of a larger treatment plan that includes anti-inflammatory medications, targeted jaw and neck stretches, and stress reduction techniques along with correcting your bite and underlying issues related to your occlusion and bruxism (grinding). After careful evaluation of your specific TMJ anatomy and movements, Dr. Samadian will inject Botox® using a fine needle into the strained muscles that are causing the pain, most often in your jawline and temple. You’ll feel the typical pinch of a standard tiny needle injection, but otherwise Botox® is not painful. The treated area may be numbed with cold compresses or numbing creams, and it’s recommended you don’t rub or massage the injection sites for several days to avoid displacing the Botox®. Treatments are quick, around 10 minutes, and you’re free to resume your regular schedule immediately after your appointment. Typical TMJ patients require a couple of  treatments over a period of several months to a year granted that they fix the underlying issues that are leading to the problem. 

What Results Can I Expect with Botox?

You may experience mild improvement with Botox® a day or two following your treatment, but real relief begins after 7-10 days. Botox® is not a one-time treatment, as its effects will begin to wear off around 12 months. This is why multiple treatments may be necessary so relief from TMD symptoms remains uninterrupted.

Botox® is just one tool in Dr. Samadian’s arsenal to treat TMJ disorders. He’ll determine every possible cause for your TMJ pain and work to alleviate the source of your disorder, not just the symptoms. If you have jaw asymmetries, a misaligned bite, or malocclusion, Dr. Samadian will design a treatment protocol to correct the whole problem. You want a dentist who is specially trained in treating TMJ, and Dr. Amin Samadian is passionate about whole health and advanced dentistry. Your smile is worth it.