Tired of Living with Chronic TMJ Pain? Botox® Can Provide Lasting Relief

If you’ve been diagnosed with TMJ disorder and you’re tired of living with the constant pain and stress in your jaw and surrounding areas, we have a surprising solution for you: Botox®.

You might think Botox is just for getting rid of wrinkles, but it works to solve other problems as well.

Kathleen Torres, DDS, Marii Malagayo, DDS, and our experienced team at Reality Bites Dental are bullish on using Botox to provide lasting relief for your chronic TMJ pain.

What is TMJ?

TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders cause pain, tenderness, and inflammation in your jaw joints and the areas surrounding your jaw. You may experience difficulty opening and closing your mouth, headaches, earaches, and neck pain. Your temporomandibular joint is a complex joint on each side of your face that connects your lower jawbone to your upper jaw, allowing you to eat and speak.

TMJ disorders are often caused by a combination of factors, including teeth grinding, stress, genetics, and misalignment of your jaw joint. Some treatments can help relieve the pain, such as physical therapy, night guards, stress reduction techniques, and even acupuncture and massage therapy, but Botox has emerged as a promising alternative treatment as well.

How does Botox help?

Botox, or botulinum toxin, is an FDA-approved neurotoxin for reducing wrinkles in adults. It works by paralyzing your muscles temporarily to prevent them from making the same repetitive motions that lead to wrinkles. 

When the appropriate amount of Botox is injected into a targeted area, your frown lines, crow’s feet, and forehead lines become smoother, bringing a more youthful look to your face.

For TMJ disorder patients, the goal is function rather than cosmetic. When Botox is injected into your affected jaw muscles, it relaxes them, which in turn reduces the force and intensity of the muscle contractions. 

As your muscles relax, the pain and stress also reduce, leaving your jaw free to move and function more normally. The release of tension can also help resolve any headaches or neck and shoulder pain.

A Botox treatment for your TMJ disorder is quick, noninvasive, and painless. You can have treatment on your lunch break at our office and then go right back to work or resume your daily activities with no downtime.

If you’re ready to relieve your TMJ pain with Botox, our Reality Bites Dental team is here to help. To get started, just call our San Antonio, Texas, office at 210-399-5951 or book your appointment with our convenient online scheduler anytime!