What is TMJ?
TMJ is an acronym for the TemporoMandibularJoint. The TMJ is located on both sides of the face, just in front of the ears.
It connects the jawbone to the rest of the facial bones and is an important joint involved in jaw movements such as opening and closing your mouth.
TMJ disorders and TMJ dysfunction
TMJ disorders such as teeth grinding / clenching (Bruxism), jaw dislocation, jaw misalignment may lead to TMJ dysfunction.
TMJ dysfunction happens when the jaw joints and surrounding muscles and ligaments become inflamed and painful due to overuse or additional mechanical stress.
What are TMJ dysfunction symptoms?
The term TMJ is commonly used to refer to TMJ disorder symptoms such as:
- Jaw aches and pain
- Headaches
- Earaches
- Neck and shoulder aches
- Jaw “locking” when opening the mouth widely
- Clicking noises when opening or closing of the mouth
- Teeth pain and damage
How does TMJ or Jaw Botox help?
Botox is injected into a large jaw muscle known as the Masseter.
Carefully placed injections of Botox helps to relax the Masseter muscle, leading to reduced teeth grinding (bruxism) and reduced pressure and stress on the TMJ.
TMJ inflammation is thus reduced, alleviating TMJ disorder symptoms such as jaw aches and headaches.
Can TMJ Botox help with Jaw slimming?
When the jaw muscle (Masseter) is relaxed with Botox, the muscle undergoes a process known as disuse atrophy where its size and bulk is gradually reduced naturally.
This process takes around 1 month and leads to a slimming effect of the face a.k.a V shaped face.
Learn more about V shaped face Jaw Slimming Botox treatments here
Treatment Experience
Dr Edwin will first ask you to clench or bite down to locate and mark out the masseter muscle bulk.
Icepacks are then applied to the area to reduce discomfort and bruising risk.
3 to 4 injections of Botox are injected into each jaw muscle using tiny needles. Discomfort is minimal and feels like small pricks / ant bites.
The entire treatment duration lasts around 10 minutes.
Bruising and swelling post injection is rare and if present, may last around 5 to 7 days.
How long for TMJ Botox results to appear?
Grinding (Bruxism) starts to improve within 1 to 2 weeks after injection. TMJ symptoms will gradually improve over the next 2 to 4 weeks.
Jaw slimming should gradually become noticeable after 1month.
If more TMJ Botox is needed, another treatment can be done 1 month after.
How long does TMJ Botox last for?
Depending on the Botox dosage and size of the jaw muscle, results should last between 3 to 6 months.
Botox for headaches
Aside from TMJ Botox, tension headaches may be caused by overactive forehead or frown muscles. Dr Edwin may recommend injecting Botox in these areas to help alleviate tension headache symptoms.
Learn more about forehead Botox here
Learn more about frown muscles Botox here
How do I find the Best TMJ Botox Clinic in Singapore?
Every clinic offers different TMJ Botox treatment options. No one clinic is same as the other. If you want to make sure that the TMJ Botox treatments are performed safely and effectively, make sure that the clinic is experienced in TMJ Botox injections. The clinic should also offer information on the various types of TMJ Botox treatments before proceeding.
