Headache & Migraine Treatment in Ottawa

Chronic headaches and migraines can be debilitating, affecting your ability to work, sleep, and enjoy life. While many people reach for painkillers for temporary relief, the key to lasting relief is addressing the root cause – and in many cases, that root cause is related to your jaw.

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) can trigger frequent headaches and migraines through jaw tension, muscle strain, and teeth grinding. When jaw muscles are tight or misaligned, the tension can radiate to your temples, forehead, and the back of your head, causing chronic pain that traditional headache treatments can’t resolve.

Rather than relying on medications that only mask symptoms, our approach focuses on identifying and treating the underlying jaw issues that may be causing your headaches. By addressing TMJ-related factors, many patients experience significant, lasting relief from chronic headaches and migraines.

Our treatment approach addresses the jaw dysfunction that’s triggering your headaches, rather than just treating the pain symptoms. Dr. Dahan will perform a thorough examination to identify tension, misalignment, or other jaw issues that may be contributing to your chronic headaches.

Treatment may include custom oral appliances to prevent nighttime teeth grinding and reduce jaw tension, therapeutic exercises to strengthen and relax jaw muscles, and lifestyle modifications to reduce triggers. For some patients, we may also recommend therapeutic BOTOX® as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

Therapeutic BOTOX® for Migraines:

Therapeutic BOTOX® works differently than painkillers – instead of treating headaches after they start, it can prevent them from occurring in the first place. BOTOX® is the first FDA-approved preventative treatment for chronic migraines.

The treatment works by blocking pain signals (neurotransmitters) from reaching your head and neck area. When injected into specific facial and jaw muscles by Dr. Dahan, BOTOX® helps prevent the muscle tension that triggers TMJ-related migraines. Most patients see improvement within 10-14 days after treatment, with effects lasting approximately 12 weeks.

Unlike oral medications, BOTOX® treatment is administered during brief office visits every 12 weeks. Treatments become more effective with each session, and many patients report fewer migraine days and reduced missed work or activities.