Botox and temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
Botox
Botox, or more precise botolinum toxin type A, is a toxin produced from a bacteria called Clostridium botulinum, which inhibits the excitation transmission from the nerve to the muscle. Herewith it is possible to reduce the force of muscle contraction temporarily. Well known is the use from aesthetic medicine specially in treatment of mimic wrinkles specially in the upper third of the face.
Use at TMJ disorders
Even in temporomandibular joint disorders with predominantly muscular origin (clenching, grinding) a well dosed and good targed injection of botox in the major chewing muscles may be very helpful, especially when conventional methods alone (physiotherapy, splint therapy) are not successful alone.
The application in this field is a so called “off-label-use”. Therefore health insurance has to be contacted first to ask for covering the costs.