Botox for Jaw Pain: How It Works

That jaw pain, difficulty chewing, muscle spasms, or soreness you feel when you open your mouth could be due to TMD, i.e. temporomandibular joint disorder. This condition could be caused by a jaw injury, stress, bruxism, or genetic predisposition. Lifestyle changes and/or physical therapy exercises can help some people find relief from TMD symptoms. At Simply Wellness Dental in Vancouver, British Columbia, Dr. Adi Nokiani and our team offer an alternate TMD treatment in the form of Botox injections for jaw pain relief.

How Botox Works to Relieve Jaw Pain

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jawbone to your skull. It functions like a hinge, enabling jaw movement—side to side, up and down, forward and back. This mobility makes it possible for you to eat, speak, and yawn. Issues with your TMJ or surrounding jaw muscles can result in painful symptoms that hinder the function of your mouth and jaw. TMD symptoms can range from jaw pain and stiffness to migraine headaches, earaches, teeth clenching, muscle spasms, and difficulty chewing.

Despite being a common problem, living with TMD can be frustrating, as this condition can lower the quality of your life. This is where Botox injections can come in. Botox, aka botulinum toxin, is a natural “muscle relaxer.” It works by blocking the nerve signals that control muscle contraction in your jaw. When injected into your TMJ, Botox causes your jaw muscles to relax, which reduces tension that leads to pain.

If you suffer from TMJ pain and discomfort, Botox offers the following benefits for relief: 

• Non-surgical Treatment

Botox injections are quick and easy as they don’t require extensive preparation, surgery or anesthesia. You can schedule Botox treatments with Dr. Nokiani and the team at our dental office at your convenience. Your treatment is quick and relatively painless. As there’s no downtime with Botox injections, you can return to your normal activities immediately after your treatment.

• Pain Relief

With Botox injections, you can often experience relief from jaw pain, chronic headaches, jaw stiffness, muscle spasms and other symptoms associated with TMD. Most people start to feel the effects of Botox within a few weeks of the injection. Complete pain relief, however, may take a month or so. The results of these injections can last three to six months, after which you’ll need to schedule further treatment to maintain the therapeutic effect.

• Improved Jaw Function

Botox injections make it easier to function and chew your food without discomfort or pain. You’ll be able to open and close your mouth without the nagging muscle pain. Botox can relieve painful muscle spasms that can restrict your jaw movements and cause your jaw to lock up. With less pain, tension and stiffness, your jaw joint will function more smoothly and effectively. 

Botox Injections for Jaw Pain Near Me

To learn more about Botox injections for TMJ pain and how they can benefit you, contact Dr. Adi Nokiani and the team from Simply Wellness Dental in Vancouver, BC, at (604) 229-5922.

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