Trigger Point Injections

When jaw pain, temple pain, and neck tension are part of the picture, the muscles are usually involved. The masseter, temporalis, medial and lateral pterygoids, and the sternocleidomastoid can all develop hyperactive spots called trigger points that compress local nerve fibers and refer pain to distant sites. The temporal headache that seems to come from nowhere, the earache with no ear findings, the tooth pain that moves around: these are often muscle in origin. Trigger point injections deliver a small amount of local anesthetic directly into the hyperactive muscle band. The injection disrupts the self-sustaining spasm cycle, allows the muscle to fully relax, and gives the surrounding nerve endings a chance to reset. Relief is often immediate; the full effect unfolds over the following days. In some cases we pair the injection with PRF (platelet-rich fibrin concentrated from your own blood) to promote tissue healing at the injection site. The procedure is done entirely in-office. Local anesthesia makes the injection itself comfortable. Soreness at the injection site is common for a day or two; serious complications are rare. Trigger point injections are most effective as part of a broader treatment plan. They break the acute pain cycle and allow other therapies to take effect: splint therapy, bite equilibration, physical therapy, without the interference of constant muscle guarding. We do not offer them as a standalone substitute for addressing the underlying dysfunction.