Botox & Dysport for Verona, NJ

When the jaw never switches off

Botox and Dysport are best known for forehead lines, the “11s” between the brows and crow’s feet. At Montville MedSpa & Pain Center they have a second job that matters to a lot of people: easing a jaw that clenches, grinds or simply aches. The practice lists teeth grinding, chronic clenching, stress-related muscle tension, injury and arthritis among the causes of TMJ disorder, the problem of the jaw joint and the muscles around it.

Signs worth having looked at

Early on, TMJ trouble tends to show as tenderness or an ache in the jaw, clicking or popping, and tightness in the facial muscles. Left alone, it can bring chronic headaches, a jaw that locks or will not open fully, and pain or ringing in the ear. If chewing has become uncomfortable or your headaches seem to start in your jaw, an evaluation can show whether TMJ is behind them.

Muscle, joint or disc

Not every sore jaw is the same problem, which is why the cause is sorted out before anything is injected:

• Muscle-related (myofascial) pain. Persistent tightness in the chewing muscles from stress, clenching or grinding, often with facial soreness and headaches.
• Joint-related pain. Inflammation inside the joint itself, felt as stiffness and tenderness close to the ear.
• Disc displacement. The small cushioning disc slips out of line, causing clicks, pops or locking.
• Degenerative change. Arthritic wear of the cartilage and bone over time.

A neurotoxin works on muscle. Placed in overactive jaw muscles, it relaxes the clenching and grinding that load the joint, which takes strain off the joint and the tissue around it. Other conservative steps can sit beside it, such as stress reduction, a bite evaluation and muscle relaxation techniques.

The days after

Most people go straight back to their usual routine. Mild tenderness can last 24 to 48 hours, and the possible side effects are temporary soreness or a small bruise where the needle went in, some swelling, a tired feeling in the jaw, and, rarely, a slight asymmetry or a change in how your bite feels. Relief in jaw tension and headaches often begins within days and builds over the following weeks. Results typically last three to four months, and maintenance treatments may be suggested.

A pain physician as well as an injector

Dr. Donna D’Alessio, MD, board certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, leads the practice’s pain center and its injector team, so the jaw and the face are assessed by someone trained in muscles, nerves and movement. Cosmetic injections are also given by nurse practitioners Amy Natalicchio and Tanya Santoro, working to her standard.

Getting here

Route 23 north from Bloomfield Avenue, then Route 202 through Lincoln Park, brings you to 624 Main Road in Towaco, about 21 minutes from Verona without traffic.

Verona patients ask

Can my frown lines be treated as well? Mention them at your consultation. The same team treats the forehead, the area between the brows and the corners of the eyes.

Will mild jaw pain go away by itself? Mild cases sometimes settle, but chronic TMJ often needs treatment to keep it from getting worse.

My headaches are migraines. Is that the same appointment? No. Botox for chronic migraines has its own assessment and its own injection points.

When are you open late? Tuesdays, until 7 pm. Saturdays run from 9 am to 1 pm.

Read more about TMJ treatment or the full Botox and Dysport page.

Book NowCall (973) 794-3958Text (973) 834-7074