masseter botox

Treatment of teeth grinding with botox

Teeth grinding or bruxism is a medical term that refers to a problem that unconsciously grinds the teeth while awake or asleep, which can cause physical pain and serious dental problems. Chronic grinding of teeth can cause headaches, earache, facial pain and even migraines.

Things to know about the masseter muscle

Some personal habits can directly affect the expansion of your jaw muscles (masseter). Excessive chewing of gum, chewing hard items such as ice, or chewing hard meat can all lead to an enlarged masseter muscle. Nocturnal clenching due to stress, or bruxism, can also cause your jaw muscles to expand.

Masseter botox

Masseter botox is an aesthetic procedure in which the lower part of the face, where the masseter muscle is located, is thinned.

Massetter botox is aimed at the treatment of deformities in the lower part of the face. A more proportional face shape is obtained by reducing the square face shape, which causes a masculine and rigid appearance on the face. If the masseter muscle is too large, it can cause discomfort not only aesthetically, but also physically. For this reason, this procedure is also applied in some cases to provide treatment, both form and function.

What are the risks of teeth grinding?

Dental problems from bruxism include loss of tooth enamel, increased tooth sensitivity, and flattening and/or cracking of teeth. Bruxism patients who sleep by clenching their teeth and clenching while awake, often experience jaw pain. Another side effect of bruxism is hypertrophy, which occurs with the strengthening and thickening of the jaw muscles.

What are the effects of botox treatment in teeth grinding?

Treatments known as Botulinum Toxin Type A or commonly known as botulinum toxin; It provides highly effective relief in the treatment of jaw pains, headaches and other unpleasant problems associated with bruxism. In addition to bruxism, botulinum toxin treatments also help soften the appearance of the jaw line.

Botulinum toxin and conventional bruxism treatments

Recently, botulinum toxin has proven to be an ideal treatment option to target and treat excessive muscle activity and spasticity. Many other treatments, such as anti-inflammatory drugs and dental appliances, may not be enough to address the source of the problem. Although dental devices have been used successfully to prevent teeth grinding at night, they may not stop the painful side effects of teeth and gums.

How is botox applied in teeth grinding?

By injecting small doses of botulinum toxin directly into the masseter muscle (the large muscle that moves the jaw), the muscle is weakened as needed to stop the involuntary grinding of teeth and clenching of the jaw. This significantly relaxes the muscles and reduces wear and tear on the teeth due to grinding. Damage to the TMJ (temporomandibular joint) and headaches are reduced or eliminated. Voluntary movements such as chewing and facial expressions are definitely not affected by botox injection.

How does botox work in the treatment of teeth grinding?

Although botulinum toxin injections are not a permanent cure for bruxism, they can provide effective control over the irritating symptoms of nocturnal teeth grinding for some patients. Botulinum toxin used to treat bruxism typically takes three to four months. At the end of this period, the botox injection should be repeated by the experts.