Botox is a toxin derived from botulism but it is purified so it can be used in injections. I never expected I would end up getting it myself. My reason wasn’t for vanity but for the sake of my teeth. I have TMJ disorder, also known as bruxism: chronic jaw clenching and teeth grinding. For me this was caused by grinding my teeth in my sleep and clenching my jaw. I’ve destroyed two splints, bit right through them. Other pain management, medication and massages, was less than effective in the long run and a dull thum of pain just resonates in my jaw instead of not being able to chew at all. A different intervention was needed if I was going to keep my teeth. I would most likely need a root canal in the future and have to keep on replacing my fillings. I ground out five of them over the last five years. Finally, I bit the bullet and I decided to get Masseter Botox—botox targeting your chewing muscles.
I called the dental clinics near me and asked around. It turned out that any cosmetic place can do the procedure and recommended a place near me. I called for a quote and I had to ask them to repeat the price to me because it just didn’t seem to be real, $6 a unit. They told me they would judge how many units I would need on the day. If I wanted to get the procedure done on the day it was the total cost of units of botox used on me, if I just showed up and decided I didn’t want the procedure it would cost $100. Though I had already decided I was getting the procedure. The side effects: swelling, pain, flu-like symptoms etc. I would do anything to save my teeth. I had already decided what I was doing, my mind was already made up.
Doctor X did a physical of my jaw and asked all the important questions: Do you have a splint, isn’t your medication working—I bit through two of my splints. My medication is not as effective as it was before. He told me I should follow that up with my GP, I was afraid he wasn’t going to give me the botox, then he touched my face, tested my jaw strength and looked at muscles. He told me I definitely needed the botox. He said my masseter muscles are enlarged, he told me I needed 42 units on each side of my face. I agreed. I had already decided what I was doing, my mind was already made up.
The needle going through my cheek into my muscle sounded like a pimple being popped. The doctor told me it made that sound because of how tight the muscle was, pop, pop, pop. A rush of something cold and one side done. Pop, pop, pop, finally finished. A bit of tenderness, a little sting of pain. I ended up paying $504 dollars for my treatment and I will see in about two weeks whether I need more or not.
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