Therapeutic BOTOX

Family & Cosmetic Dentist Serving Natick, Wellesley, Dover, Sherborn & Nearby Massachusetts

There are two types of BOTOX®: cosmetic and therapeutic. Both types have been approved by the FDA to treat various conditions. While BOTOX® Cosmetic is one of the world’s most popular treatments for reducing facial wrinkles and fine lines, BOTOX® Therapeutic is actually older. The FDA first approved BOTOX® to treat eye muscle disorders back in the late 1980s. The FDA eventually also cleared it to treat other conditions. BOTOX® Cosmetic wasn’t approved by the FDA until 2000.

woman getting BOTOX Therapeutic injection in the jaw areaAt South Natick Dental, patient education is a cornerstone of our dental philosophy. When you meet with our experienced dentist, Dr. Svetlana Novak DMD, she will thoroughly evaluate your oral health and dental condition and explain all of your treatment options, which, in some cases, may include BOTOX® Therapeutic.

To learn more about how Dr. Novak can help you with BOTOX® Therapeutic, please contact South Natick Dental today by calling 508-655-8020 or completing the form on this page to schedule a free consultation. We welcome patients from Natick, Wellesley, Dover and Sherborn, Massachusetts as well as other neighboring communities.

What Is BOTOX® Therapeutic?

BOTOX® Therapeutic is an FDA- approved protein complex that temporarily blocks nerve impulses that cause muscles to contract. When Dr. Novak injects BOTOX® Therapeutic into the muscles in and around your mouth, she can effectively address a variety of issues such as bruxism and TMJ disorder. The injections only take a few minutes and results can last for several months at a time.  

Treating Bruxism (Clenching) with BOTOX® Therapeutic

jaw pain and teeth grinding due to TMJChronic jaw clenching or teeth grinding, known as bruxism, can lead to severe headaches, ear pain, and a sore jaw. It can also wear down your teeth and cause cracking and breaking. Most people who suffer from bruxism grind their teeth or clench their jaws while they sleep, but the condition can also manifest involuntarily during waking hours as well.

Mouth guards are commonly used to treat bruxism, but BOTOX® Therapeutic can also be used to relax specific muscles and relieve a number of bruxism-related symptoms, such as:

  • Earaches
  • Chronic headaches
  • Tooth damage or wear
  • Jaw fatigue
  • Pain or tightness in the jaw or other areas of the face

Bruxism can also lead to misalignment of the temporomandibular joint and lead to TMJ.

TMJ Treatment with BOTOX® Therapeutic

Millions of people suffer from severe, migraine-like headaches and chronic facial and neck pain because of a condition known as temporomandibular disorder, also referred to a TMJ or TMD.

The temporomandibular joints connect your skull to your lower jawbone. You use these joints every day to chew, speak, yawn and swallow. When your facial muscles, teeth and jaw joints are not in harmonious balance, a number of painful complications can arise, such as:

  • Chronic headaches
  • Teeth grinding or clenching (bruxism)
  • Ear pain
  • Clicking or popping of the jaw joint
  • Shoulder and neck aches
  • Facial pain

Although it is still a relatively new solution for TMJ treatment, BOTOX® Therapeutic has been increasingly used to successfully treat a variety of symptoms related to muscle overexertion. Many medical issues, such as uncontrollable blinking, excessive sweating and chronic migraines have also been effectively addressed with BOTOX®.

Schedule Your Free BOTOX® Therapeutic Consultation Today

If you’d like to learn more about the therapeutic benefits of BOTOX® Therapeutic, please call 508-655-8020 to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Novak at South Natick Dental. We proudly serve Natick, Wellesley, Dover and Sherborn, Massachusetts.