What is the Scientific Reason That Botox Treatments Help Ease the Symptoms of TMJ?

Will the botox treatments give me lasting or temporary relief? How often do I need to get the botox treatments before I experience improvement in my symptoms?

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TMJ benefit frequency long-lasting long-term temporary treatment

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5 Doctor Answers | Asked by anon

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TMJ can be relieved by Botox in some patients

Botox can relax muscles that are overactive and put undue stress on one side, or both sides, of the jawbone where it pivots in its socket. This joint pain can radiate out to different areas and significantly affect the quality of life in individuals. The clenching of the jaw and grinding of the teeth, that can occur at night during sleep as well, continues to make the problems worse. The muscles of mastication (chewing) can then be relaxed with botox, but it does have to be... more

Science of TMJ treatment with Botox.

Some (but not all) TMJ symptoms are caused by hyperactivity or spasm of the masseter muscle, which is the chewing muscle that bulges in your cheek when you bite down with your teeth. Grinding of the teeth while sleeping (dreaming) is termed bruxism, and is also associated with TMJ symptoms in some patients. Damage or destruction of the TMJ articular cartilages can also cause pain, "cracking" sounds, and "locking" of the jaw movement, but this can be associated with... more

What is the Scientific Reason That Botox Treatments Help Ease the Symptoms of TMJ?

Best of luck. Dr Smith's answer is truly the way to learn the pathophysiology of Botox to masseter therapy. I recommend seeing an expert injector to have it done.

It relaxes the chewing muscle

The masseter muscle is the one that closes the jaw and helps us grind down on our food - as well as grind down on our teeth, so by relaxing the muscle, there is not as much force generated when using the muscle. This reduces the friction and wear on the TM joint, thereby reducing pain. One treatment may be very helpful by breaking the cycle for a period of time, but often best results are obtained by keeping the masseter muscle relaxed for long periods of time. The longer... more

BOTOX® helps TMJ pain and bruxism [grinding teeth by relaxing the masseter, and perhaps also blocking the release of Substance P

BOTOX® helps TMJ pain and also bruxism [grinding teeth] by relaxing the masseter muscle [above the jawline and in front of the ear], and perhaps also by blocking the release of Substance P [a neurotransmitter which is involved in some chronic pain syndromes]. When used for TMJ pain and/or bruxism, I usually inject the masseter with 3 or 4 ten unit doses of BOTOX® at a depth of about 8 mm. Treatment is usually repeated every 3-6 months, depending on the patient's needs. more