Dr. Tai Ha of Newport Beach Dental Studio is trained in administering botulinum toxin (Botox/Xeomin) therapeutically to help alleviate jaw pain (TMJD/TMD), headaches, and migraines. If you suffer from chronic head and neck pain, clench or grind your teeth, or have heavy gum recession, you may be a candidate. After a thorough head and neck examination, Dr. Ha can recommend the best course of treatment.
Treatments Dr. Ha performs include nightguard/splint therapy, and botox injections into facial, jaw, and neck muscles including masseters (jaws), temporalis (temple area), frontalis (forehead), trapezius (shoulders), and more. In addition to Botox therapy, trigger point injections and needling are other modalities that can be used to facilitate your pain treatment.
At times, Dr. Ha will recommend working with other specialists including orofacial pain specialists, physical therapists, neurologists, ENT, oral surgeons, and orthodontists to facilitate your treatment so that you are comprehensively treated.
How Botox Works
Botox therapy works by weakening the chewing (mastication) muscles of the face and neck. By doing so, the stresses exerted on your teeth are lessened, and as a result, you should experience fewer damaged teeth, less or inhibited gum recession, fewer headaches, and an increased sense of well-being providing for an overall improved lifestyle.
How Trigger Point Injections Work
If you’ve ever felt knots in your muscles that you frequently have to massage to alleviate pain or make you feel better, trigger point therapy works by breaking down those tight nodules that allow your muscles to heal back to their normal state. Myofascial pain caused by trigger points can create radiating pain throughout the face, mouth, and teeth. With proper diagnoses, Dr. Ha can help identify the source of pain and offer trigger point injections to help alleviate the referred pain. Trigger point therapy is performed by using an ultra-sharp needle with an anesthetic to dissolve away the hard muscle lumps or nodules. Sometimes, it is used in conjunction with Botox and/or PDO threads to provide for longer-lasting effects.
Benefits of Botox Therapy & Trigger Point Injections
Botox therapy and trigger point injections can greatly improve your life by reducing muscle strain in your head and neck, resulting in fewer headaches, fewer broken teeth, and less gum recession. As an added benefit, depending on where the botox was injected, this can reduce facial wrinkles, slim your jawline, make your smile look better, and make you look younger!
Contraindications for Botox
- Lactating or pregnant women
- Patients under the age of 18
- Patients with allergies to human albumin
- Infection, inflammation, rash, acne, or dermatitis in the treatment area
- Fever, flu, cold symptoms
- History of neurological diseases (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis)
Temporary Side Effects of Botox
- Ecchymosis (bruising)
- Occasional heaviness sensation of the forehead
- Transient headache, flu-like symptoms
- Discomfort, swelling, redness
- Weakness of the lacrimal gland (dry eye)
- Possible bacterial or fungal skin infection
- ‘Peaking’ of eyebrows (can be corrected with enhancements)
How Much Does It Cost?
Pricing depends on the areas treated, the amount of botox used, and the course of treatment.
How Long Does the Therapy Last?
Therapy generally lasts for up to three months. We recommend patients return regularly for follow-up exams and treatment. If symptoms subside, patients are still encouraged to return for regular check-ups.
Does Insurance Cover This Treatment?
At this time, there are no dental insurances that will cover this therapy.