What Are The Benefits Of Jaw Botox?

What comes to mind when you hear “botox?” If you’re thinking of injections that will make the wrinkles and crow’s feet on your face vanish, you’re partly right. But botox has many important medical uses, too. For instance, the doctors at the Toothbar, an Austin cosmetic dentistry practice, use jaw botox for TMJ.

Botox Explained

Botox is made from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, the same toxin that, in much larger doses, causes botulism.

It works by weakening or paralyzing the muscles or blocking the nerves in the affected area.

Doctors use safe, tiny doses to help severe sweating under the arms and on the feet; cervical dystonia, which causes severe neck and shoulder contractions; blepharospasm or uncontrollable blinking; misaligned eyes or strabismus; chronic migraine; and overactive bladder.

At our Austin cosmetic dentistry practice, our doctors use jaw botox (masseter botox) to treat TMJ and other jaw conditions that cause discomfort and pain.

How Jaw Botox Provides Relief

The masseter muscle connects your lower jawbone to your cheekbone and helps elevate your lower jaw. Injecting botox into the masseter can relieve several conditions.

Our Austin jaw botox dentists use it for…

1. Grinding teeth: Grinding your teeth while you sleep can cause tightness in your jaw; or pain in your jaw, face, teeth, or ears. It can also cause headaches, and it can damage your teeth. Botox injections into your jaw can relax the masseter and stop involuntary teeth grinding.
2. TMD (TMJ): The temporomandibular joint is between your lower jaw bone and skull. It works with your masseter to help you chew. TMJ is common. In the US, it’s estimated it affects 10-30 million people. TMJ can cause pain in your face, jaw, temporomandibular joints, around and in your ear, and pain while chewing. Sometimes, the joint locks, making it hard to open and close your mouth, and it can cause a clicking sensation when you chew. It can also cause headaches, damage to your temporomandibular joint and your jaw’s range of motion. By injecting botox into the masseter, the dentists at Toothbar provide the relief many TMJ patients need to live without pain with no need for physical therapy or painkillers.
3. Face shape: The masseter muscles can widen the lower face, giving it a square shape. Botox injections will weaken the masseters and reduce their size, so the face looks slimmer and the jaw is v-shaped, not square.

What To Expect During A Jaw Botox Treatment

Your jaw botox treatment will begin with an initial consultation and a brief examination of your face.

Before we begin the procedure at the Toothbar, we’ll clean your skin thoroughly to prevent infection around the injection site. If you want a topical anesthetic, we’ll give it then. The actual treatment usually lasts about 15 minutes.

After your treatment, you can go about your normal activities, except avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours.

Frequently asked questions about Jaw Botox?

Do you still have questions about botox? You’ll find the answers right here.

1. How long does botox last? It can take up to a week to see noticeable results. One jaw botox treatment usually lasts three-four months.
2. How many units of botox will I need? The number of units you’ll need will depend on your condition. But generally, the dose for TMJ is 50 units or 25 on each side of the face.
3. How many sessions will I need? The initial treatment for TMJ usually requires two or three sessions.
4. Does jaw botox cause any side effects? Like any other medical or dental procedure, botox can cause some minor side effects, like swelling or pain around the injection site, headaches, a crooked smile, bruising, drooling, and flu-like symptoms. Most resolve shortly after the injections.

Do you have more questions? We’re always here to help. Just give us a call at 512-949-8202 or email hello@thetoothbar.com.