Oro-Facial Pain Botox Course
A single, integrated practical course in the use of botulinum toxin for oro-facial pain — covering foundation upper-face Botox, chronic migraine, bruxism and TMJ dysfunction, and trapezius / myofascial trigger points.
Built around the chicken-and-egg reality of oro-facial pain: jaw, head, neck and upper-face muscles all pull on each other, and lasting relief usually means relaxing each component a little rather than chasing one in isolation.
About this course
Oro-facial pain is rarely a single-muscle problem. A patient who presents with chronic headache often grinds at night; a bruxer often holds tension in the trapezius and sub-occipital muscles; a patient with TMJ dysfunction often has a hyperactive frontalis and corrugator from years of guarding. Treating any one of these in isolation tends to disappoint. Treating all of them, gently, in a single coordinated session is what produces durable relief.
This course is built around that observation. Rather than ask the clinician to decide which came first — the migraine, the bruxism, the trigger points or the upper-face tension — we teach a layered, low-dose-first protocol that softens each contributor a little. The result is a clinically coherent treatment that respects the interconnectedness of the masticatory, cervical and upper-face muscle groups.
It is delivered as a single integrated programme combining four practical syllabi that we already teach as standalone short courses: Foundation Upper-Face Botox, Botox for Chronic Migraine (PREEMPT-style), Botox for Bruxism & TMJ Dysfunction, and Botox for Trapezius & Trigger Points. Delegates leave able to assess and treat the oro-facial pain patient as one continuous clinical picture.
Eligible attendees include maxillofacial surgeons and trainees, doctors, dentists, dermatologists, registered nurses, prescribing pharmacists and chartered physiotherapists with appropriate scope of practice. Practical training is restricted to registered healthcare professionals.
Four practical modules, one integrated treatment day
Each module also runs as a standalone short practical course. The integrated programme sequences them as a single low-dose-first protocol for the oro-facial pain patient.
Foundation Upper-Face Botox
Glabella, frontalis and crow's feet — anatomy, dose ranges and complication avoidance taught from first principles.
Standalone courseHeadaches & Migraines (PREEMPT-style)
Seven head and neck muscle groups. Standard 155-unit protocol with optional follow-the-pain additions.
Standalone courseBruxism & TMJ
Masseter and temporalis assessment, palpation and dose selection. Smile asymmetry and paradoxical bulging avoidance.
Standalone courseTrapezius & Trigger Points
Upper trapezius mapping and myofascial trigger-point Botox. Brachial-plexus-aware safe-zone technique.
Standalone courseWhat you will learn
- The chicken-and-egg model of oro-facial pain: how migraine, bruxism, TMJ and cervical trigger points reinforce each other
- Foundation upper-face Botox: glabella (corrugator/procerus), frontalis, crow's feet — anatomy, dose and complication avoidance
- PREEMPT-style chronic migraine protocol across seven head and neck muscle groups
- Bruxism & TMJ: masseter and temporalis assessment, palpation and dose selection
- Trapezius and trigger-point Botox: landmark mapping, safe-zone injection, brachial plexus avoidance
- A layered low-dose-first protocol that relaxes each contributor without over-treating any single muscle
- Patient selection, red-flag screening and onward referral pathways
- Consent, documentation and outcome measurement using validated diaries
Curriculum
Online theory module
- Functional anatomy of the masticatory, cervical and upper-face muscle complex
- Pathophysiology of oro-facial pain and the trigemino-cervical complex
- ICHD diagnostic criteria for chronic migraine and tension-type headache
- TMJ dysfunction and bruxism: clinical assessment and severity grading
- Myofascial pain syndrome and trigger-point identification
- Botulinum toxin pharmacology, dilution and dose conventions across all four indications
- Complication recognition and stepwise management
- Outcome assessment: HIT-6, MIDAS, jaw-function indices and pain VAS
In-clinic practical session
- Live patient consultation with structured oro-facial pain history
- Marking the upper-face component (glabella, frontalis, crow's feet)
- Marking the masseter and temporalis for bruxism / TMJ
- Marking the temporalis, occipitalis, cervical paraspinal and trapezius for migraine
- Marking trapezius and active trigger points
- Reconstitution and dilution at the working dose for each indication
- One full supervised integrated treatment per delegate
- Aftercare counselling, review scheduling and longitudinal follow-up plan
Clinical detail
Why we treat oro-facial pain as one picture
Patients with chronic migraine very often grind at night; bruxers very often have hyperactive temporalis and trapezius muscles; TMJ patients almost always carry guarding tension in the frontalis and corrugator. Treating any one of these in isolation produces partial relief at best. The course teaches a layered approach: relax each contributor a little, reassess at six to twelve weeks, and titrate up only where symptoms persist.
Foundation upper-face Botox
Glabellar complex (corrugator and procerus), frontalis and crow's feet (lateral orbicularis oculi). Standard dose ranges, brow-ptosis avoidance, and the diagnostic value of the upper-face response in identifying which oro-facial pain patients will benefit most from the broader protocol.
Chronic migraine — PREEMPT-style protocol
Seven muscle groups across head and neck: corrugator, procerus, frontalis, temporalis, occipitalis, cervical paraspinal and trapezius. Standard total dose 155 units with optional follow-the-pain additions to 195 units. Delivered as part of the integrated treatment day.
Bruxism & TMJ
Masseter palpation and severity grading, temporalis assessment, dose selection that relieves clenching without compromising chewing, and the small-print on smile asymmetry, paradoxical bulging and the importance of bilateral symmetry.
Trapezius and trigger points
Anatomical mapping of the upper trapezius and identification of active myofascial trigger points. Safe-zone injection technique that respects the brachial plexus and avoids functional weakness. Useful for patients whose oro-facial pain refers from cervical and shoulder-girdle dysfunction.
Return on investment
In UK practice, individual injection areas in this protocol typically attract patient fees of £500–£750. A clinician treating three patients to a full integrated standard recovers the cost of the course. The value, however, is clinical: oro-facial pain is one of the most under-served patient groups and the integrated protocol produces results that single-area treatment cannot.
Format & timing
This is a short blended course: complete the online theory at your own pace, then attend the in-clinic practical at our Harley Street facility. The practical portion runs approximately one to two hours per candidate, and the total day length is therefore typically two to three hours depending on group size.
Every delegate performs one full supervised treatment on a live model under one-to-one consultant supervision. We deliberately keep numbers small so that nobody observes more than they inject.
Course duration on the day naturally varies based on the number of delegates booked, model availability, and each candidate's pre-existing injecting experience — beginners benefit from longer one-to-one coaching, while experienced injectors progress more quickly.
Who this course is for
- Maxillofacial surgeons and OMFS trainees
- Doctors and dentists managing oro-facial pain, bruxism or TMJ patients
- Dermatologists and aesthetic clinicians whose patients also report headache or jaw pain
- Registered nurses and prescribing pharmacists
- Chartered physiotherapists with appropriate scope of practice
Practical training is restricted to registered healthcare professionals. Proof of registration (GMC, GDC, NMC, GPhC or equivalent) is required at booking.
Outcomes & certification
- Confidence to assess and treat oro-facial pain as one connected clinical picture
- Practical competency across upper-face, migraine, bruxism/TMJ and trapezius/trigger-point Botox
- A defensible patient-selection, consent and documentation workflow
- Certificate of completion plus 8 AiCE / CPD points
- Post-course mentor support for case review
- A clinically meaningful new revenue stream — at typical UK fees of £500–£750 per treatment area, three patients usually return the cost of the course
Pricing & what's included
£1,950 + VAT
- Full online theory across all four oro-facial pain indications with lifetime access
- In-clinic practical day at 1 Harley Street
- Live model and consumables
- Toxin units for one full supervised integrated treatment
- Digital certificate and 8 AiCE points
- Post-course mentor support
Frequently asked questions
Other Botox courses for medical professionals
Foundation Botox Course
Standalone upper-face Botox foundation training: glabella, frontalis, crow's feet.
Botox for Headaches & Migraines Practical Course
Standalone PREEMPT-style chronic migraine protocol training.
Botox for Masseter Muscle Practical Course
Standalone masseter Botox for bruxism and jawline slimming.
Trapezius & Trigger Points Practical Course
Standalone trapezius slimming and myofascial trigger-point Botox.