Facial Aesthetics
Why Are Dentists Offering Botox? Jaw Pain, Headaches and the Smile Connection
Dentists spend years studying the muscles and nerves of the face. That's why wrinkle relaxers like Botox are a natural fit for dental offices, for comfort as much as cosmetics.
By Dr. Prabha Raju, DDS · July 22, 2026 · 5 min read
Patients are sometimes surprised to learn that Tender Dental Care offers Botox and other wrinkle relaxers. But when you think about what dentists do all day, give comfortable injections, study the anatomy of the face, and think about how a smile fits a person's features. It makes a lot of sense.
It started with jaw pain
For many dental patients, the first experience with a wrinkle relaxer is therapeutic, not cosmetic. Clenching and grinding (bruxism) overwork the large chewing muscles at the angle of the jaw and in the temples. That leads to morning headaches, jaw soreness, worn-down teeth and cracked fillings. A small, precise dose relaxes those muscles for about three to four months, reducing pain and protecting your teeth, often alongside a custom night guard.
From the jaw to the forehead
The same medication, placed in the small muscles of expression, softens frown lines between the brows, horizontal forehead lines and crow's feet. The technique is conservative: enough to look rested, not enough to look frozen. Because we already know your face and how your smile moves, we can plan treatment around the whole picture, including lips, smile lines and the way your expressions work together.
What about fillers and PDO threads?
Dermal fillers restore volume that time takes from the cheeks, lips and the lines around the mouth, literally framing your smile. PDO threads offer a non-surgical lift and collagen boost for the lower face and jawline. We'll explain which, if any, make sense for you at a relaxed consultation.
Is it right for me?
If you clench, grind, wake with headaches or simply want a refreshed look from a clinician who knows the anatomy inside and out, ask us at your next visit or request a consultation online. Treatments take about 15 minutes and most patients come in over lunch.
Questions patients ask us
Dentists with the appropriate training provide wrinkle relaxers and fillers within their scope of practice, with a particular focus on the jaw, smile and lower face. Dr. Raju will discuss what's appropriate for you at a consultation.
Typically three to four months. Many patients pair it with a custom night guard and schedule touch-ups with their regular cleanings.
You'll feel tiny pinches. Dentists give comfortable injections all day long, and most patients say it was easier than they expected.
Have a question about your smile? Ask a Burton dentist who listens.
Tender Dental Care welcomes new patients from Burton, Flint, Grand Blanc, Davison and all of Genesee County. Request a visit online or call and a real person will answer during office hours.
About the author
Dr. Prabha Raju, DDS
Dr. Raju has practiced dentistry in Burton, Michigan since 1997, with advanced training in implants, sedation, laser dentistry and Invisalign.
Meet Dr. Raju →Tender Dental Care, 1024 N. Genesee Rd, Burton, MI 48509. Serving Flint, Grand Blanc, Davison, Flushing, Swartz Creek, Fenton and Genesee County. This article is general information, not a diagnosis; please see a dentist for advice about your own mouth.
