YOU DESERVE THE BEST
BOTOX® Therapy and TMJ Treatment
in San Francisco
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorders including teeth grinding (Bruxism), headaches, severe stress, and lock jaw can be therapeutically treated with BOTOX® therapy. BOTOX® is placed in specific muscles which work with your TMJ and can provide relief. The clenching and grinding that occurs can contribute to severe headaches. As the clenching and grinding is alleviated from the TMJ treatment, so are the headaches.
+ What is a TMJ headache?
Patients can have difficulty distinguishing a TMJ headache from a traditional one. TMJ headaches are typically the result of teeth grinding or tensing up of jaw muscles but can also be linked to issues relating to osteoarthritis, joint hypermobility, or osteoporosis. Sunset Dentistry is San Francisco’s choice for TMJ pain relief.
+ Is BOTOX® the best TMJ pain treatment?
For those that are still not experiencing relief from acupuncture, physical therapy, a custom night guard or night time appliance, or for those who cannot tolerate those, this can be of great benefit to you. Dr. Morghem herself has benefited from these treatments and can attest to the relief it can provide. This is currently a common, yet off-label use of BOTOX ® or Dysport™ therapy. Patients report a significant decrease in soreness, jaw tension, headaches, and muscle pain.
+ How long does BOTOX® treatment for TMJ last?
3-6 months depending on the person. For cases where the initial pain is high, we recommend 3-4 months.
+ How many units of BOTOX® will I need each TMJ treatment?
It varies per person but on average 50-100 units are used.
+ Does this mean I will need 50-100 injections of BOTOX®?!
No, that means the total number of Botox units. This can vary from 10-20 injection sites depending on the person’s needs.
+ Will BOTOX® therapy change my smile?
Great question! Read more about how BOTOX® affects your smile: https://sfsunsetdentistry.com/buzz/will-botox-or-therapeutic-injectables-for-tmj-pain-change-my-smile
+ Does insurance cover BOTOX® treatment for TMJ?
The short answer is no. However, you can absolutely use your FSA/HSA for your botox treatment. Some patients do not need further documentation other than a receipt. Should you need a form to be filled out or a letter of medical necessity, we are happy to do that for you. The best thing is to contact your HR and find out if any additional information is needed. There are some patients with Kaiser Medical that have been able to receive reimbursement. If this applies to you, we can fill out the adjunctive form for a reimbursement request.
+ Tips to stop grinding teeth
Teeth grinding or bruxism traditionally occurs while we sleep and can be linked to stress or anxiety. Sunset Dentistry specializes in identifying the signs of teeth grinding and can help put you on path to relief. Some quick tips to help stop teeth grinding are:
- Seek help: This is number one for a reason and we are here to help. Teeth grinding may be a symptom of other sleep-related issues so also seek help from your primary healthcare provider.
- Meditate: Meditation can help reduce the stress and anxiety that may causing bruxism. There are number of great mobile apps and services that offer daily meditation courses.
- Exercise: Endorphins are our body’s way to relief stress and pain. Exercise produces endorphins that can help shift your mood and provide the relaxation your body needs for a restful night’s sleep.
Video: Dr. Sophya Morghem discusses BOTOX® Therapy and TMJ Treatment
Video: Behind-the-scenes of BOTOX® therapy and TMJ Treatment
