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Sung-Tak Kim

Yonsei University · Medicine

About the Lab

Professor Sung-Tak Kim's research lab specializes in the clinical and translational applications of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) in orofacial pain, aesthetics, and neuromuscular disorders. The lab focuses on optimizing injection techniques—particularly ultrasound-guided delivery—for enhanced precision and safety in treating conditions like bruxism, masseter muscle hypertrophy, and neuropathic facial pain. Key research directions include evaluating the efficacy and long-term outcomes of BoNT-A in sleep-related bruxism, facial asymmetry, and chronic orofacial pain, with a strong emphasis on imaging-guided assessment using ultrasonography and 3D facial scanning. The lab also investigates the use of validated screening tools, such as the ID Migraine questionnaire, in specialized pain clinics to improve diagnostic accuracy and patient management.

botulinum toxinorofacial painultrasonographyfacial asymmetrysleep bruxism

Research Overview

Papers
169
Total Citations
2,027
Papers (5y)
26
Primary Field
Medicine

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
26total
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Citations per year (5y)
74total
20222023202420252026

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|116 citations·2014
Effects of Botulinum Toxin on Jaw Motor Events during Sleep in Sleep Bruxism Patients: A Polysomnographic Evaluation
Young Joo Shim, Moon Kyu Lee, Takafumi Kato, Hyung Uk Park, Kyoung Heo, Seong Taek Kim
SJR Q1Journal of Clinical Sleep MedicineOA
Complementary and Manual TherapyHealth Professions
2
Article|86 citations·2020
Botulinum Toxin Therapy for Managing Sleep Bruxism: A Randomized and Placebo—Controlled Trial
Young Joo Shim, Hee Jin Lee, Keun Jeong Park, Hyung Tack Kim, Il Hee Hong, Seong Taek Kim
SJR Q1ToxinsOA

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) for managing sleep bruxism (SB) in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Thirty SB subjects were randomly assigned into two groups evenly. The placebo group received saline injections into each masseter muscle, and the treatment group received BoNT-A injections into each masseter muscle. Audio–video–polysomnographic recordings in the sleep laboratory were made before, at four weeks after, and at 12 weeks af

Complementary and Manual TherapyHealth Professions
3
Article|39 citations·2020
Comparison between Conventional Blind Injections and Ultrasound-Guided Injections of Botulinum Toxin Type A into the Masseter: A Clinical Trial
Hyungkyu Bae, Ji‐Soo Kim, Kyle K. Seo, Kyung‐Seok Hu, Seong Taek Kim, Hee‐Jin Kim
SJR Q1ToxinsOA

The aim of the study was to propose a more efficient and safer botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) injection method for the masseter by comparing the conventional blind injection and a novel ultrasonography (US)-guided injection technique in a clinical trial. The 40 masseters from 20 healthy young Korean volunteers (10 males and 10 females with a mean age of 25.6 years) were included in this prospective clinical trial. The BoNT-A (24 U) was injected into the masseter of each volunteer using the conv

NeurologyMedicine
4
Article|34 citations·2010
Use of Botulinum Toxin Type A Injection for Neuropathic Pain after Trigeminal Nerve Injury
Seung Hyun Yoon, Robert L. Merrill, Jong Hoon Choi, Seong Taek Kim
SJR Q1Pain MedicineOA

OBJECTIVE: To present a case that neuropathic pain following traumatic injury of the inferior alveolar nerve, which was relieved by the injection of BTX-A. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: Tertiary care University hospital. SUBJECT: A 62-year-old female was referred by her general dentist to our clinic due to numbness and pain over the left side of her lower lip and chin region. INTERVENTION: Botulinum toxin type A injected into the middle of chin area subcutaneously. RESULTS: At 1 month after BTX-

Pathology and Forensic MedicineMedicine
5
Article|24 citations·2006
Use of the ID Migraine Questionnaire for Migraine in TMJ and Orofacial Pain Clinic
Seong Taek Kim, C.E. Kim
SJR Q1Headache The Journal of Head and Face PainOA

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether the ID Migraine questionnaire could be applied successfully to assess the migraine patients in TMJ and Orofacial Pain Clinic. BACKGROUND: As migraine pain represents a substantial personal and social burden worldwide, there has been a great deal of effort in developing a screening instrument for migraine. METHODS: Each subject completed a self-administered screening questionnaire consisting of nine items. Based on the International Headac

Psychiatry and Mental healthMedicine
6
Article|20 citations·2013
Effect of Unilateral Injection of Botulinum Toxin on Lower Facial Asymmetry As Evaluated Using Three-Dimensional Laser Scanning
Yu Rim, Young Gun Kim, Ji Hyun Kim, Seong Taek Kim
SJR Q2Dermatologic SurgeryOA

Unilateral BoNT-A injection appears to be an effective esthetic treatment for patients with muscle-induced facial asymmetry.

NeurologyMedicine
7
Article|15 citations·2017
Does Botulinum Toxin Injection into Masseter Muscles Affect Subcutaneous Thickness?
Gunwoo Park, Young-Chan Choi, Jung‐Hee Bae, Seong Taek Kim
SJR Q1Aesthetic Surgery JournalOA

BACKGROUND: Botulinum toxin (BoNT) is widely used to treat masseter muscle hypertrophy. Changes in the muscle thickness have been found in many studies, but there has been no report on changes in the thickness from the skin surface to the masseter muscle. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to use ultrasonography to measure not only changes in the muscle thickness but also changes in subcutaneous thickness. METHODS: This study enrolled 20 volunteer patients: 10 were assigned to an experimental group (injected

NeurologyMedicine
8
Article|14 citations·2018
Accessory nerve distribution for aesthetic botulinum toxin injections into the upper trapezius muscle: anatomical study and clinical trial
Jung‐Hee Bae, Ji-Soo Lee, Da-Yae Choi, JeongHoon Suhk, Seong Taek Kim
SJR Q2Surgical and Radiologic AnatomyOA
Cell BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
9
Article|13 citations·2016
Anatomical recommendations for safe botulinum toxin injection into temporalis muscle: a simplified reproducible approach
Won-Kang Lee, Jung‐Hee Bae, Kyung‐Seok Hu, Takafumi Kato, Seong Taek Kim
SJR Q2Surgical and Radiologic AnatomyOA
NeurologyMedicine
10
Article|12 citations·2023
Evaluation of Clinical Symptoms Improvement by Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Using a Smartphone Application in Patients with Temporomandibular Disorder
Na-Kyung Hwangbo, K.B. Woo, Seong Taek Kim
SJR Q2HealthcareOA

Since the start of the 2019 coronavirus pandemic, interest in digital therapeutics (DTx) has increased. Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) fundamentally requires cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), including physical self-regulation. An application that records TMD pain and parafunctional activities for CBT has recently been developed. However, evidence of the reduction of clinical symptoms in patients via repetitive software-driven CBT is lacking. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate

Complementary and Manual TherapyHealth Professions
11
Article|12 citations·2020
A Proposal for Botulinum Toxin Type A Injection Into the Temporal Region in Chronic Migraine Headache
Young Gun Kim, Jung‐Hee Bae, Hyeyun Kim, Shuu‐Jiun Wang, Seong Taek Kim
SJR Q1ToxinsOA

Botulinum toxin type-A (BTX-A) injection for treating chronic migraine (CM) has developed into a new technique covering distinct injection points in the head and neck regions. The postulated analgesic mechanism implies that the injection should be administered to sensory nerves rather than to muscles. This study aimed to determine the topographical site of the auriculotemporal nerve (ATN) and to propose the effective injection points for treating CM. ATNs were investigated on 36 sides of 25 Kore

NeurologyMedicine
12
Article|11 citations·2020
Effect of Botulinum Toxin Injection on Asymmetric Lower Face with Chin Deviation
Dong Wook Kim, Ju-Hyun Park, Vittorio Favero, James Mah, Young‐Soo Jung, Seong Taek Kim
SJR Q1ToxinsOA

The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of botulinum toxin (BoNT) in masseter muscle reduction depending on the amount of chin deviation. Exploring distinctive effects of BoNT relative to the characteristics of facial asymmetry will aid in planning and predicting treatment outcomes. Sixteen adult volunteers were classified into two groups according to the degree of menton deviation observed in posteroanterior cephalograms. Eight had a menton deviation of 3 mm or more and the other

NeurologyMedicine
13
Article|10 citations·2021
Botulinum Toxin Type-A (Botulax®) Treatment in Patients with Intractable Chronic Occipital Neuralgia: A Pilot Study
Hyeyun Kim, Bongjin Jang, Seong Taek Kim
SJR Q1ToxinsOA

Intractable chronic occipital neuralgia (ON) is an uncommon type of headache often experienced by patients in outpatient neurological clinics. Among patients unresponsive to oral neuralgia medications, needling or injections with several drugs were suggested alternatives for treating chronic ON. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness and safety of botulinum toxin type-A (BTX-A) injection treatments, where eight patients with unilateral chronic ON received BTX-A injections at the pain si

NeurologyMedicine
14
Article|9 citations·2024
Pharmacologic management of trigeminal nerve injury after endodontic treatment: A retrospective analysis
Keun Jeong Park, Eunhye Choi, Il‐Young Jung, Seong Taek Kim
SJR Q1Journal of Oral RehabilitationOA

BACKGROUND: Trigeminal nerve injury following endodontic treatment, leading to unpleasant sensations or partial sensory loss in the face or oral mucosa, is uncommon but significant when it occurs. OBJECTIVE: This study analysed the pharmacological management of trigeminal nerve injuries (TNI) in a university-based hospital. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 47 patients who visited the Department of Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine at Yonsei University Dental Hospital, Seoul, Kore

Oral SurgeryDentistry
15
Article|8 citations·2018
A questionnaire-based study of sleep-wake patterns and sleep quality in a TMJ and orofacial pain clinic
Hee Jin Lee, Seong Taek Kim
SJR Q1CRANIO®

These results imply that clinicians treating patients with orofacial pain should examine their sleep-wake patterns and sleep quality.

Complementary and Manual TherapyHealth Professions

Research Areas

NeurologyComplementary and Manual TherapyOceanographyPsychiatry and Mental healthRheumatologyPhysiology

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