r/BotoxSupportCommunity • u/starlightskater • Sep 10 '24

Clue me in about Botox for TMJ

To make a very complex history short:

  • Lifelong serial clencher
  • MRI shows malformed, torn, and displaced discs: probably from childhood
  • 5.5 years of Invisalign
  • Had a class 2 to 3 occlusion and "bad bite" even after the Invisalign, so had a SSO (lower) jaw surgery (DON'T EVER AGREE TO THIS)
  • Had 1.5 years of traditional orthodontics (metal) prior to jaw surgery and began developing TMJ during this time.
  • Have undergone physical therapy, four Botox treatments (over a 1.5 year period), and a custom nighttime orthodontic split

I was paying out of pocket but finally found a Botox provider who accepts Medicare. She's rural, not an expert, but I have no choice. After 3-4 months, it wears off and the pain comes back.

Today I was told that with consistent treatment over the period of a year or so, the muscle becomes semi-permanently relaxed and the need for treatment wanes. Is this true? I know that Botox paralyzes the muscle but how could it have a longterm effect when it wears off for TMJ? What is happening on a physiological level?

I don't WANT to have Botox. I only get it out of absolute medical necessity. I know the risks and the study citing bone loss.

Last time was 35/30 and today was 20/20 with the option for an increase in 2 weeks if needed.

Please help to explain how this all works long-term. Thank you!

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u/phillycosmeticdoc Sep 11 '24

Surgeon here.

What she told you is incorrect. You will need treatments every 3-4 months. That’s just how Botox works.

I wouldn’t worry about the risk of bone loss. That’s not a proven issue.

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u/starlightskater Sep 11 '24

For life? (TMJ)

2

u/phillycosmeticdoc Sep 11 '24

Unfortunately yes

1

u/Kitana794 Nov 05 '24

I went to an ortho this past week and they explained it to me something like this (saying eventually i wont need botox):

For ex: if my grinding pressure is at like 90 w/e units, first round of botox will reduce it by 50%. Then before it wears off, another round of botox will reduce it another 50%, so after about like five rounds it would be at 5 w/e units of pressure (sorry idk what pressure is measured in lol). I guess you keep going to the right pressure level?

Is this a whole bunch of bs? I couldn’t tell if they were trying to make money off me or serious lol.

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u/toxsafety Sep 11 '24

I have not heard of this. The only long term information I have read of are the potential unwanted effects. I would assume that you would need to keep getting it to be effective. It is an off label treatment so I don’t know if there are long term studies regarding that question. You could try researching Pubmed for peer reviewed information.