Therapeutic Injections

Injections For TMJ Pain Relief At New York TMJ & Orofacial Pain

Trigger Point Injections For TMJ

Trigger point injections for TMJ can help reduce pain, TMJ headaches, and neck pain for many patients. When you get a trigger point injection the benefit is achieved through the mechanical prodding of the muscle and the local anesthetic that is commonly used. 

The mechanical needling process has the potential to diminish muscle tension, spasm and guarding. The local anesthetic (lidocaine) which is injected into the muscles toward the end of the needling process can short-circuit the transmission of pain-irritated nerves, diminish pain in the short term, and reduce soreness the following day, as well.

Within a few days, most patients report a welcome lessening of pain and a sense that their muscles feel looser.

If we determine that trigger point injections for TMJ pain could help you, you’ll need to come in for several injection sessions in three to six-week intervals. And, while the injections are helping you feel better, we will work to uncover and help you reduce the risk factors, such as teeth clenching and grinding, that got your muscles in trouble in the first place.

Dry Needling For TMJ

Dry needling is similar to trigger point injections for TMJ in that needle prodding of the tight muscle produces the benefit. As with trigger point injections, one treatment session is not the norm. Dry needling does not utilize local anesthetic.

BOTOX® Injections For TMJ

BOTOX® can be a very effective way to reduce jaw pain and associated limitations in jaw function in patients who suffer from TMJ. It works by limiting the ability of your jaw muscles to contract to their full potential. If your TMJ symptoms are a result of jaw over-use behaviors such as bruxism and no other treatments have worked, then we may turn to BOTOX®.

BOTOX® injections do not cure TMJ problems, but they can reduce your suffering and buy some time during which we are putting other therapies in place for you. When BOTOX® is chosen to address TMJ Pain and jaw motion limitations, repeat injection sessions will likely be needed two to three times at three-month intervals.

There’s a lot of press out there about the benefits of BOTOX® for TMJ, but not every healthcare provider has been trained to use it in the proper doses, in the right places, and for the correct number of times. At New York TMJ & Orofacial Pain, we have 15 years of experience with BOTOX® for TMJ. We are uniquely qualified to administer it (and other neurotoxins) in the safest and most effective way.