There are advertisements in multiple medias touting Botox as a cure or relief for TMJ, also for jaw slimming. Whereas some relief of TMJ pain may be obtained with Botox injected into the masseter muscle, this is truly simply a band-aid or a patch for bigger issues.
When your knee hurts do doctors inject the muscles around the knee with Botox? Of course not, they try to see what the problem is and then correct the issues. The same can apply to the TMJ joint. Simply injecting Botox into the muscles does not correct the problem.
Many patients have who are given Botox have:
- Worn-down teeth
- Headaches
- Clicking and popping joints
- Sore Muscles
- Neck Pain
The real issue is that the Botox is not correcting or addressing what is actually causing the problem. These can range from degenerative joint disease, bad bites, airway issues due to the teeth, underdeveloped jaws, and the list goes on.
Dr. Konig explains, “Simply injected Botox through the years can lead to further degeneration of the jaw joints and teeth as the pathology is still there.”
These photos show how “band-aids” can lead to facial asymmetry and more complicated issues. Addressing the problems and correcting the problems can lead to drug-free and pain-free results in most cases.
How to Choose A TMJ Dentist
Consider consulting a dentist with special interests in Physiologic Dentistry or Neuromuscular Dentistry to see what options you may have to correct your TMJ pain with on long term basis.
We have many patients who have become “addicted” to Botox injections along with other prescription drugs for sleep and/or depression due to TMJ pain and headaches. Correcting their physiologic bite issues has allowed treatment to get them off drugs.
If you have questions or concerns about Houston Botox Injections for TMJ or Houston TMJ Pain, please feel free to contact our office, Ronald W. Konig DDS, FAGD, LVIF, 713-668-2289.
