Fewer migraine days, more of your life back. Botox is a preventive treatment for adults with chronic migraine. Instead of treating each attack, it works in the background to reduce how often migraines happen. At Vigée Dental, Dr. Nicole Robins, who has additional training in esthetic and therapeutic Botox, brings a detailed knowledge of the muscles of the head, jaw and neck to every treatment. If you have not been diagnosed with chronic migraine, start with your family physician.
Botox is approved in Canada to prevent headaches in adults with chronic migraine. Chronic migraine means headaches on 15 or more days a month, with at least 8 of those days being migraine. Botox is thought to work by blocking the release of pain signalling chemicals from nerve endings in the treated areas, which calms the pathways involved in a migraine attack.
In clinical studies, people with chronic migraine had fewer headache days after treatment. The benefit builds over time, so it usually takes two treatment cycles to judge how well it works for you. Migraine Canada has a helpful overview of Botox for migraine.
Not every headache is a migraine. Clenching and grinding overwork the jaw and temple muscles and can cause tension headaches that are worse in the morning. If your headaches come with jaw pain, worn teeth or a tight jaw, TMJ Botox for the masseter and temporalis muscles may be the better fit. Read about the signs of TMJ problems. We check for these at your consultation, and you can see all of our Botox treatments in Calgary.
Botox for migraine prevention is meant for adults with chronic migraine. It is not used for episodic migraine (fewer than 15 headache days a month) or for occasional tension headaches, and it is not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding or with certain neuromuscular conditions.
You may be a good candidate if:
A sudden, severe headache, or a headache with weakness, confusion or vision loss, needs emergency care. Call 911.
Every 12 weeks. Treatment is usually reviewed after two cycles to see how much it has reduced your headache days.
Some injection points are in the forehead, so you may notice softer forehead lines. The dose and placement follow the migraine protocol, not a cosmetic plan.
Many private plans cover Botox for chronic migraine, often with prior approval from the insurer. Coverage rules vary, so check your plan. Vigée Dental is fee for service, and we provide the documentation you need to make a claim.
The needles are very fine. Many people feel a brief pinch at each point, and the appointment is short.
Common side effects are neck pain or stiffness, a brief headache and tenderness at the injection points. Some people notice temporary neck weakness or a heavy eyelid or brow. These usually settle within a few weeks.
No. The migraine protocol includes a few points in the upper shoulders, but it follows a set pattern across the head and neck to prevent migraine. Trap Botox targets the upper trapezius to soften the neck and shoulder line and ease shoulder tension.
Botox is not approved for tension-type headaches in general. When headaches come from clenching and grinding, relaxing the jaw muscles with TMJ Botox may help.
