Botox for Jaw Pain
If you are one of the millions of Americans suffering from chronic discomfort in the jaw when at rest, eating, or speaking, it may be time to make an appointment with your Kingwood dentist to see about getting Botox for jaw pain. Does your jaw pop when you chew, yawn or speak? Are you experiencing headaches from jaw pain that keeps you from taking on your day?
Whether you are experiencing headaches or muscle aches of the jaw related to temporomandibular disorders, Botox may be able to help.
There is no need to endure splitting headaches and nagging jaw pain when there is a solution that may help you feel like you again.
Potential Sources of Jaw Pain
Two muscle areas that may be responsible for headaches and jaw pain are the masseter and temporalis muscles.
- Masseter muscle. A person uses their masseter muscle in the jaw for chewing. It is connected to the temporomandibular joint.
- Temporalis muscle. Individuals use the temporalis muscle to facilitate chewing and even speaking. This muscle is frequently described as fan-shaped and is located on the side of the skull.
Issues in either of these two muscles can result in temporomandibular joint disorders which can manifest in patients in one or more of the following ways:
- Ear pain or earaches
- Headaches or chronic migraines
- Jaw stiffness
- Jaw pain
- Restricted movement of the jaw when it comes to opening and closing the mouth
- Popping or clicking of jaw muscles when chewing or yawning
- Bite alignment issues
- Problems with chewing
Over time, these conditions may result in jaw clenching and tooth grinding and may even be rooted in chronically high stress levels.
The good news is that there may be pain relief as close as your local dentist’s office in the form of Botox injections.
Masseter and Temporalis Botox for Jaw Pain
A temporary, non-surgical solution for jaw pain relief that is popular among Kingwood patients is Botox injections.
The botulinum toxin used in the shots comes from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Although these injections are more frequently thought of as cosmetic in nature, there is a growing body of studies that suggest they may also be effective in relaxing the stiffness of underlying muscles in the jaw by blocking certain nerve signals. The desired effect is for it to temporarily limit or eliminate symptoms of jaw-related disorders.
Only licensed dental personnel should administer Botox shots for the jaw, which should take approximately thirty minutes, because it requires a great deal of precision. Many patients note some initial improvement immediately following the injections but may not experience the full benefits until several days later.
While side effects of this treatment are considered to be minimal, patients may experience some degree of bruising or swelling at the injection site which could be accompanied by a nominal amount of soreness.
For many patients who receive Botox for jaw pain, the effects of the shots may last up to six months before they begin to wear off. Depending on the patient and the circumstances that attributed to their symptoms, it may be necessary to get additional injections for symptom relief over the course of several months.
While Botox may make a difference for patients experiencing jaw pain, not everyone is eligible for the treatment. Individuals who are pregnant or suffer from certain health conditions may not be candidates for the injections. To find out if Botox will work for you, make an appointment with a reputable dentist in Kingwood for a consultation.
Benefits of Botox for Jaw Pain
There are multiple benefits for using non-surgical Botox injections for jaw pain, including the fact that knowledgeable dentists can administer them to patients in office. Additional benefits of Botox for jaw pain include:
- Decreased pain and discomfort in the jaw, ears, face and head
- Minimized popping of the jaw when chewing or speaking
- Increased jaw function that can better facilitate chewing
- Improved quality of life on a temporary basis with limited or no jaw related pain
Additionally, opting for Botox injections may enable patients to stop using over the counter pain medications on a daily basis to help relieve jaw pain and headaches.
A daily life with jaw pain that results in headaches, difficulty eating and chewing, and discomfort when yawning does not have to be your status quo. If you think you may benefit from Botox for jaw pain, contact Stellenwerf Dental Studio in Kingwood to learn more.