Therapeutic Botox
If you live with TMJ (temporomandibular joint) pain, you know that waking up with a stiff, sore jaw is no way to start the day. For many people, the pain doesn't stay in the jaw - it spreads to the temples, neck, and shoulders, and may lead to tension headaches or worn, chipped teeth.
Clenching and grinding - especially overnight - strengthens the jaw muscles over time. Over time, the muscles become larger and stronger, contributing to more tension, more pain, and sometimes a wider jawline. A night guard protects your teeth from wear, but it doesn't stop the muscles from working overtime.
Targeted injections into the overactive jaw muscles (most often the masseters and sometimes the temporalis) reduce the force those muscles can generate, helping break the cycle of clenching and pain. Most patients notice softening of tension within one to two weeks, with results typically lasting three to five months.
Where tight, knotted bands in the neck and shoulder muscles feed the pain pattern, trigger point injections can be added - a quick needling treatment that releases focal muscle tension, often during the same visit.
Jaw dysfunction is especially common in people with joint hypermobility and Ehlers-Danlos syndromes - lax ligaments around the TMJ can lead to instability, subluxation, clicking, and compensatory muscle guarding. If you're hypermobile, that will be part of your assessment: the goal is relieving muscle overactivity without destabilizing a joint that relies on muscular support. Treatment is tailored to your anatomy, with follow-up to fine-tune dosing.
Botox can help when jaw pain comes from overactive muscles - clenching, grinding (bruxism), and the tension that spreads to the temples, neck, and shoulders. Small injections into the jaw muscles (usually the masseters, sometimes the temporalis) ease the force those muscles generate. Whether Botox is appropriate depends on what's causing your symptoms, which the assessment sorts out; if the problem is mainly dental or joint-related, you will be pointed in the right direction.
A night guard protects your teeth from the wear of grinding, but it does not stop the muscles from clenching. Botox works on the muscles themselves, easing the overactivity that drives the pain. The two can be used together.
A focused assessment of your jaw, bite, and pain pattern. If possible, bring information about previous dental work, night guard use, prior injections, or any diagnosis of hypermobility or EDS. If Botox is appropriate, the injections take about ten minutes, with minimal discomfort and no downtime.
Most people notice tension easing within one to two weeks, with results typically lasting three to five months before retreatment.
Some extended health plans contribute toward treatment. After your consultation, Dr. Baldwin works with a specialty pharmacy that coordinates third-party coverage on your behalf. Costs are reviewed before treatment so you know what to expect before deciding to proceed.
No referral is required to book a consultation about Botox. You can book a TMJ consultation in Victoria (Hillside Medical Clinic) online, or book in Burnaby (Kensington Medical Clinic) by email.
Therapeutic Botox appointments are available at both clinics. Many extended health plans provide coverage for therapeutic BOTOX®, although benefits vary.