Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, commonly referred to as TMJ or TMD, occurs when there is a derangement in the normal functioning of the Temporomandibular Joint.  Repetitive behaviors such as teeth grinding or clenching, gum chewing, fingernail biting, or stress lead to enlargement of the head and neck muscles.

Your specific diagnosis and the severity of your condition will dictate how much BOTOX you will require.

BOTOX is injected into the affected head and neck muscles.  BOTOX block nerve signals that cause muscle movements, essentially relaxing the muscles and reducing or eliminating facial pain.

You will also notice your facial esthetics will considerably improve.  Facial wrinkles may disappear following the treatment.  The jaw may even slim down, creating a beautiful esthetic effect.

Only the areas injected with BOTOX will be "relaxed".  BOTOX treatment for TMJ therapy will not affect anywhere else in your body.  The injections are mainly in the temporalis, frontalis, and masseter.  Additional sites may be injected with BOTOX depending on the severity of the headaches.

The pain associated with the treatment procedure is due to the injections, but it is generally minimal and brief.  Some patients have compared BOTOX injections to a "bug bite" or "prick".  Pain from the injection site can be reduced by numbing injection sites with a cold pack.

As with any medical procedure, there are possible risks and side effects.  Since this is a non-surgical, non-invasive procedure, the risks and complications are infrequent, minimal, and temporary.

The most commonly reported side-effects are bruising, headaches, flu syndrome, temporary eyelid droop, and nausea.  BOTOX treatments should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation.