Most patients who are seeking possible TMJ treatment solutions have probably come across Botox as a method of decreasing the pain. Whereas Botox can give some pain relief, it is not a good solution long term. In fact it is not a long-term solution at all.
Using Botox for TMJ is simply placing a band-aid on. It does not promote healing or correct the problem. In fact, most of the time no diagnosis is made or even a CBCT scan to see what the actual problem is. Would you get an injection into to your knee with an xray or diagnosis?
On top of this, a new report in Scientific Reports did a study that showed that Botox injected into the forehead altered people’s brain chemistry, impacting how they interpreted other people’s emotions. The study was done as the American Society of Plastic Surgeons recorded 4,401,536 Botulinum Toxin Type A procedures, which includes Botox. Due to the increase researchers questioned the effect that the facial paralysis has on the persons ability to interpret emotions. Botox was found to hinder the facial feedback hypothesis, that states people instinctively mirror facial expressions in a effort to identify and experience the emotion being expressed in front of them. Very interesting study.
All this aside, Botox is not FDA approved for TMJ treatment. There are most often nonsurgical TMJ treatments for patients, even those with overbites, underbites, and facial asymmetry. If you have questions regarding Houston TMJ Pain or Nonsurgical Overbite Treatment, please feel free to contact us at Ronald W. Konig DDS, FAGD, LVIF, 713-668-2289.
