Botox for Masseter Hypertrophy and TMJ
Botox is among the most common cosmetic surgery procedures in the United States. The term Botox refers to a type of Botulism Toxin which is a medicine that is used to relax hyper-tense muscles on the face. For cosmetic use, Botox is used to treat wrinkles on the face and overactive muscles of facial expression. Botox is commonly used for a variety of other conditions including migraine headaches, excessive sweating, blepharospasm, hyperactive muscles of the neck, TMJ, and masseter hypertrophy.
TMJ disorders can cause considerable long-term effects on your quality of life as they can lead to chronic tooth grinding and bruxism. More than just a cosmetic concern, TMJ and TJD can lead to chronic headaches, muscle tension, neck pain, and headaches. These uncontrollable urges to clench and grind your teeth may affect your sleep patterns and overall health.
Botox is a safe and effective treatment that is used commonly in cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery. Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian is a double board-certified plastic surgeon who has specialized expertise in Botox injections for cosmetic and medical use. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a Diplomat of the American Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He is among the few plastic surgeons in Los Angeles who perform Botox for masseter hypertrophy and TMJ. If you are seeking a board-certified, expert plastic surgeon for jaw clenching, asymmetric jawline, bruxism, teeth grinding, and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ); schedule a consultation today with Dr. Karamanoukian at Kare Plastic Surgery and Skin Health Center in Santa Monica.
The use of Botox for masseter and TMJ problems has a proven clinical track record for safety with few side effects. The treatment involves the injection of Botox into masseter muscles of the face and jawline. For patients with excessive hypertrophy of these muscles and hyperactive teeth- clenching or bruxism, Dr. Karamanoukian may also recommend injections into the temporalis muscle to further reduce grinding of the TMJ.
Bruxism
Many patients with TMJ suffer from a condition known as bruxism, which is associated with excessive grinding or clenching of your teeth and jaw muscles. This can lead to excessive wear and tear of the molars in the back of your mouth and excessive cavities and damage to the teeth. A simple technique to treat bruxism is to use mouth guards, but these mouthguards should be replaced and resized at regular intervals. Bruxism can lead to chronic tooth damage, jaw pain, headaches, and temporomandibular joint disorders. It is thought that approximately 30% of healthy adults suffer from some mild form of bruxism. Misaligned teeth, certain medications, sleep disorders, and genetics may be contributory factors to bruxism and TMD.
Our Los Angeles plastic surgery office offers Botox treatments to help treat bruxism as an alternative to mouthguards. Botox is a safe, FDA-Approved medicine that works by blocking the nerve signals that causes muscles to contract and become hyperactive. By reducing the activity of overactive muscles in the jaw, teeth clenching and grinding can be reduced…and the muscles of the face relaxed. Most Botox injections for TMD and TMJ typically last between four and six months, depending on the severity of the bruxism, teeth grinding, and masseter hypertrophy. The Botox is typically injected into the masseter muscles and temporalis muscles, which are both the most active anatomic muscles of jaw clenching and grinding.
There are many benefits to Botox injections for bruxism and TMJ. Dr. Karamanoukian has been advocating Botox for masseter hypertrophy, bruxism, TMJ disorders, and overactive masseter muscles because it is safe and effective, and can effectively reduce the amount of force supplied on the teeth. Dentists throughout Santa Monica and Los Angeles refer patients to Dr. Karamanoukian at Kare Plastic Surgery in order to help prevent tooth damage, chronic jaw, pain, and headaches associated with overactive facial muscles . The process begins with a consultation and examination of the masseter and temporalis muscles, followed by same-day injection to help relieve the stress associated with hyperactivity of masseter muscles.
Traditional treatments for temporomandibular disorders and bruxism involve bite blocks and mouth guards. The major problem with these two types of treatments is that they do not source-treat the underlying cause of muscle hyperactivity. Rather, they prevent the clenching and grinding motion by acting as a barrier between the upper and lower rows of teeth . Many patients who have mouth guards reduce their compliance with the appliances because they can break and wear-down easily.
Candidates for TMJ Botox injections into the masseter muscle include those who have chronic teeth grinding, and teeth clenching symptoms. Chronic tension and stress in the jawline and around the temples with ongoing symptoms throughout the day and night are likely candidates for Botox injections. Patients will note that the jawline may become more contoured and slender with repeated Botox injections.
We start many of our consultations with an examination of the teeth and the degree of masseter hypertrophy. If the medical examination and history point towards chronic TMJ, and bruxism symptoms associated with masseter hypertrophy, Dr. Karamanoukian and his clinical staff may recommend Botox injections in an outpatient setting.
We begin by administering a small amount of Botox within the most hyperactive fibers of the masseter muscle and the TMJ. The procedure is done under sterile conditions and usually takes several minutes to perform; with patients, noting very little to absent pain and soreness before, during, and after the procedure. The Botox injections begin to work immediately and will take up to 5 to 7 days for full effect . It is important to break the cycle of teeth clenching and jawline masseter hypertrophy with pre-emptive Botox treatments over the course of 3 to 6 month intervals. Many of these treatments can be performed in association with your dentist or orthodontist in order to help resolve your long-term problems with teeth grinding and teeth clenching. If you would like to find out more about Botox injections for bruxism, TMJ, teeth grinding, and jaw clenching, call Kare Plastic Surgery at (310) 998-5533 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.
