Home > Services > Facial Aesthetics > Botox for TMJ / Bruxism
Chronic jaw clenching and teeth grinding exhaust your chewing muscles, which can lead to tension headaches and worn or cracked teeth. We use targeted botulinum toxin injections, specifically Xeomin, to relax these overactive muscles, which can ease muscle-related jaw pain.
When treating bruxism (teeth grinding) and muscle-based TMJ disorders, we focus on the large muscles responsible for closing your jaw. By injecting precise amounts of Xeomin into these areas, we reduce how hard those muscles can contract when you clench. This targeted muscle relaxation helps you by:
Muscle Group | Function | How the Injection Helps |
|---|---|---|
Masseter | The large, powerful muscle at the angle of your jaw used for heavy chewing | Softens the muscle contraction to prevent severe, damaging clenching forces |
Temporalis | The broad muscle that spans the side of your head and temples | Can ease the muscle tension linked to some tension headaches |
We palpate your masseter and temporalis muscles to identify areas of hypertrophy (overgrowth) and severe tension.
Because these chewing muscles are large and powerful, they require a specific clinical dose mapped to your unique muscle mass.
Using a fine needle, we deliver the medication directly into the muscle belly to target the source of the clenching.
The muscles begin to relax over a few days. We evaluate your relief after two weeks and help establish a maintenance schedule to manage the chronic tension.
When Dr. Mohammad Hammoud treats TMJ tension with Xeomin, he treats it as a management tool, not a standalone cure. It does not fix the underlying neurological habit of grinding or a displaced joint disc. Instead, it temporarily disengages the overactive muscles. Botulinum toxin is not FDA-approved for TMJ disorders or bruxism, so this is an off-label use, and we explain what that means before you decide. We frequently combine this treatment with a custom nightguard to protect your teeth and support long-term joint health.
Usually not. You may notice a slight decrease in your maximum bite force, but most patients chew, speak, and swallow normally. The goal is to weaken the involuntary clenching, not your functional chewing ability.
You will feel a brief pinch during the injection, but the procedure is quick. Most patients find the mild, momentary discomfort very easy to tolerate.
For large chewing muscles, the effects typically last between three to five months before the muscle activity slowly returns to its previous baseline.
It can, over time. If your masseter muscles are overgrown from years of heavy grinding, relaxing them with Xeomin can cause the muscles to shrink slightly, which may visually soften a harsh or square jawline.
If chronic clenching and morning headaches are impacting your daily life, contact our Dearborn team to see if targeted muscle relaxation is right for you.
Reviewed by Dr. Mohammad Hammoud, DMD – 313 Dental, Dearborn, MI
