Should you get Botox to alleviate your TMD issue? Let’s discuss the pros, cons, and alternatives!
You may be asking yourself, what is TMD? (Great question, thanks for asking 😉 ) it’s the term I use when talking about TMJ disorders. Technically, TMJ is your actual joint (temporomandibular joint), and not the discomfort or conditions you can get from its overuse or the muscles surrounding it, which is TMD (temporomandibular disorders).
Back to Botox: Botox is a short way of saying Botulinum Toxin. It’s a neurotoxin that interferes with the release of a neurochemical called acetylcholine which causes muscle paralysis and fiber atrophy. Medically, it is used in a number of diseases such as migraine, cerebral palsy, dystonia, and others*.
Why are so many people talking about Botox as a treatment for TMD? In some cases, hypertrophy of muscles such as the masseter, suboccipitals, or temporalis can lead to TMD. By quieting these muscles, people may have a relief of their jaw and neck associated TMD symptoms. Results tend to last between 3-9 months depending on the muscles injected.
Now don’t get me wrong, botox can be great for if you want to get rid of that frown line that’s been bothering you or massive hypertrophy of a muscle, and if it works for you, that’s great! However, it’s a temporary solution that you can be pouring money into that isn’t actually fixing the underlying problem.
There have been several studies* that have evaluated botox injections for TMD and have found that they don’t work long-term. Pair that with the list of side effects including bruising, missed injection sites, facial drooping – for most people, the risks don’t outweigh the benefits, especially when it’s a problem you’re essentially kicking further down the road. You know me, I like to pour more concrete, not put band-aids over cracks!
If you’re having migraines, jaw pain, clicking, popping, headaches, or neck pain and nothing else has been working for you, I encourage you to book some time with me. As a PT and TMJ expert I can help create a treatment plan that not only fits into your hectic schedule, but can ease headaches, or just those strange sounds your partner is tired of hearing every time you chew…
*References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5677119/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2856357/
https://annalsofdentalspecialty.net.in/storage/models/articl…
Delcanho R, Val M, Guarda Nardini L, Manfredini D. Botulinum Toxin for Treating Temporomandibular Disorders: What is the Evidence? J Oral Facial Pain Headache. 2022 Winter;36(1):6-20. doi: 10.11607/ofph.3023. PMID: 35298571; PMCID: PMC10586579.
Have questions about this?
And if you’d like to email Martha directly, feel free to send a message to martha@q4pt.com!
