Botox – Forest Park, OH

Conditions Our Dentists Treat with Botox in Forest Park, OH

Patients with any condition that primarily affects the face and jaw area may find relief from pain and other symptoms with a Botox injection. Below are examples of just some of the facial and oral health issues our dental team can treat with Botox.

Bruxism

Patients with bruxism involuntarily grind their teeth and clench their jaw, often while sleeping or in response to stress. Some people develop this issue when they have temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), while others experience it as a stand-alone symptom. Prolonged, untreated bruxism can damage the teeth over time. The issue can also cause people to develop persistent facial pain or headaches. Since most people remain unaware that they are clenching their jaw or grinding their teeth, the problem will only get worse if they do not seek treatment for it.

Providing patients with a night guard to wear as they sleep is typically the first type of treatment our dentists offer for this condition. Those who do not see symptom improvement after wearing the night guard for at least several weeks are good candidates to try Botox injections for relief of bruxism symptoms.

Botox injections for bruxism relax the muscles associated with teeth clenching and grinding. One of our skilled dentists injects a small amount of the serum into the muscles responsible for moving the jaw called the masseter muscles. Patients who experience headaches or facial pain may receive additional injections elsewhere on their faces. Botulinum toxin reduces unconscious clenching along with tension and pain.

Most people begin feeling relief from their symptoms within one to three days of receiving a Botox injection at our dental office. Patients should keep in mind that everyone responds differently to the injections and some people may not notice a difference for up to two weeks. The pain relief and prevention of jaw clenching typically lasts three to six months after a single injection.

TMJ Disorders

Besides teeth grinding and clenching, common causes of TMJ disorders include arthritis, a jaw injury, or a genetic predisposition to the common oral health condition. Typical symptoms associated with TMJ include:

• Clicking sounds when opening the jaw
• Difficulty or pain while chewing
• Dull, aching pain around one or both ears
• Facial pain
• Headaches
• The jaw is difficult to open due to its joints locking
• Pain in the jaw joints

As with Bruxism, Botox injections are typically not the first treatment that our dentists offer to patients struggling with TMJ symptoms. They may prescribe pain relieving medication, muscle relaxing medication, or a mouth guard first. Patients who still experience jaw and facial pain after trying other remedies can typically find relief with Botox injections. The timeline for when symptom relief first begins and how long the effect of an injection lasts is the same regardless of which oral or facial condition patients have.

Other Dental or Facial Conditions That May Respond Well to TMJ Injections

Although bruxism and TMJ are the most common reasons patients receive Botox injections from our dentists, we also use it to treat the following conditions:

• Having the appearance of a gummy smile, which means that more gum tissue than teeth shows when a person smiles.
• High lip lines
• Masseter muscle repair, which is muscles in the jaw that allow people to chew food and are some of the strongest muscles in the human body.
• Nasolabial folds
• Orthodontic prosthesis or relapse repair

What Are the Primary Benefits of Dental Botox?

Dentists are already experts at working with facial bones and muscles, so it makes sense for patients to trust them with Botox injections. The benefits of Botox in a dental setting go far beyond physical appearance and can help people who have lived in pain for months or years finally find relief. Patients who wear orthodontic appliances or dentures can benefit from Botox injections to improve the way these items fit in their mouths.

Do Botox Injections Have Any Side Effects?

Botox injections are safe when given by a trained professional like Dr. Kulwin, Dr. Harmeyer, Dr. Maric, or Dr. VanderHorst at Kemper Meadow Family Dentistry. Patients may experience some temporary side effects after a Botox injection, including the following:

• A tight sensation around the top of the head, which usually disappears in one to two days.
• Bruising, mild pain, redness, or soreness at the injection site. These effects may take several days to develop and should not last more than a few days.
• Flu-like symptoms such as a headache, fever, or nausea.
• Temporary drooping eyelids or facial paralysis if the Botox serum unintentionally spreads beyond the original injection site.

These side effects are normal and should disappear completely by the end of the week. Patients should not hesitate to contact our dental office if side effects persist or worsen, or if they develop more serious reactions to their Botox injection. Muscle weakness and difficulty speaking or swallowing are common examples of serious side effects that may require prompt medical attention.

People seeking Botox injections for oral or facial issues should know that their body may become tolerant to them after a while, which makes them less effective. However, most people find lasting relief long before that happens.