Waking up with a sore jaw. A dull headache that shows up almost every afternoon. An ache in your ear that your last doctor couldn't explain. Catching yourself clenching your teeth during a stressful meeting. If any of this sounds familiar, you may be dealing with TMJ disorder — and you're far from alone. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder can cause a frustrating range of symptoms, from jaw tenderness and headaches to ear pain and teeth grinding, and it's often misdiagnosed or missed altogether. At Michael Ghiam MD, we offer Xeomin as a non-surgical treatment option to help relax the jaw muscles associated with TMJ symptoms, providing relief where it's needed most.
TMJ disorder has a way of quietly working its way into daily life until it's hard to ignore. Patients typically come to us after living with one or more of the following for months, sometimes years:
Because TMJ symptoms overlap so heavily with ear, sinus, and headache conditions, many patients spend a long time bouncing between specialists before landing on the right diagnosis. Some have been told their ear pain is a recurring infection with no infection ever found. Others have tried over-the-counter pain relievers, night guards, or stress management techniques with only partial relief. If any of this describes your experience, it may be worth having your jaw muscles evaluated as a potential cause.
TMJ disorder refers to dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint, which connects the jawbone to the skull and is used every time you talk, chew, or yawn. It can develop from muscle tension, teeth grinding (bruxism), joint misalignment, stress, or a combination of these factors. Because the joint sits so close to the ear and is connected to muscles that extend up toward the temples and down into the neck, dysfunction here can create symptoms that feel like they belong to a completely different part of the body.
Because TMJ symptoms so often present as ear pain, jaw discomfort, and headaches, they're frequently mistaken for sinus, ear, or headache conditions — or missed altogether by providers who aren't specifically trained to recognize the overlap. As a board-certified ENT with deep experience in head, neck, and ear-related conditions, Dr. Ghiam's practice is well-positioned to accurately identify TMJ as the underlying cause and rule out other ear, nose, or throat issues that can cause similar symptoms, rather than treating symptoms in isolation or sending patients elsewhere for answers.
Xeomin works by relaxing the overactive jaw muscles — particularly the masseter, the main muscle used for chewing and clenching — that contribute to jaw tension, grinding, and joint strain. By reducing this muscle tension, patients often experience relief from jaw soreness, associated headaches, and referred ear discomfort, along with a reduction in nighttime grinding that can protect teeth from further wear.
Treatment is a quick, in-office injection with no downtime, making it easy to fit into a lunch break or between other appointments. Most patients begin noticing relief within a week or two as the muscles gradually relax, with results generally lasting three to four months before a follow-up treatment is needed to maintain relief. We'll discuss a personalized treatment plan based on your symptoms, history, and how your jaw responds during your consultation.
TMJ treatment with Xeomin may be a good fit if you:
Because TMJ symptoms so frequently mimic ear, sinus, and headache conditions, an accurate diagnosis matters as much as the treatment itself. Dr. Ghiam's background as a board-certified ENT means TMJ isn't evaluated in isolation — it's considered alongside the full picture of your ear, nose, throat, and head and neck health, so you can feel confident you're being treated for the right condition the first time.
Yes. Xeomin is a well-established treatment for TMJ-related muscle tension, helping to relax the jaw muscles that contribute to clenching, grinding, and associated pain.
The temporomandibular joint sits close to the ear canal, so tension or dysfunction in the joint can radiate as ear pain or pressure — one reason TMJ is often mistaken for an ear or sinus issue and can go undiagnosed for a long time.
Results generally last three to four months, after which a follow-up treatment can help maintain relief.
No. This is a quick in-office injection with no recovery time needed — most patients return to normal activities immediately.
Because TMJ symptoms overlap with ear, sinus, and headache conditions, an evaluation with an ENT can help pinpoint the actual cause and rule out other explanations, so you're not left guessing or treating the wrong problem.
Many patients who haven't found full relief from a night guard alone see improvement when Xeomin is added, since it addresses muscle tension directly rather than just protecting the teeth from grinding.
Coverage varies by plan and by whether the treatment is classified as medical or cosmetic. Contact our office to discuss your specific coverage.
Century City (West Los Angeles):
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday - 8-5
Tarzana:
Hours: Wednesdays - 9-6