Bruxism is a medical term that describes the habit which involves excessive grinding of the teeth and clenching of the jaw.

If you grind your teeth excessively, you may notice that the masseter muscle (cheek and corner of the lower jaw) becomes over-developed which results in the broadening of your lower jaw.  This habit generally gives you a squarer jawline.

You may not notice it, but you may be surprised at how grinding your teeth can have such a noticeable effect on your appearance over time.

Bruxism is usually  stress-related but, once the habit has formed, it is subconscious, making it very difficult to stop even if you are lucky enough for the stress to have gone.

Chronic teeth grinding or Bruxism can cause a series of related problems:

• Facial pain.
• Migraine, headache, earache.
• Teeth wearing down and breaking
• Sleep disturbance or insomnia
• Over-developed jaw muscles can also  make the face look square or swollen and more masculine.

Q. What can be done to reduce teeth grinding?
Botox® injections can be used to stop the cause of Bruxism by relaxing the over-active jaw muscles. 

This will take the pressure off the jaw, break the habit and at the same time, stop any discomfort and minimise  any further damage to your teeth.

Injecting Botox into the jaw muscles means you are unable to bite down with the same force, and the result is  as effective as a mouthguard in reducing grinding and temporo- mandibular joint pain.

Q. How long does it take and how long does Botox for Bruxism last?
Botox treatment for Bruxism can be completed in around 10 to 15 minutes with results often visible the next day.

Results will typically last 4 to 6 months or sometimes even longer.
Voluntary movements, such as chewing and facial expressions, are not affected by the Botox treatment.

Although Botox injections are not a cure for Bruxism, they can effectively control the uncomfortable symptoms associated with it.

Q. What are the advantages of having Botox injections for Bruxism?

• Reduced grinding of the teeth and clenching of the jaw
• Reduced symptoms  such as headaches, earache and facial pain.
• Improved sleep for both you and your partner- no noisy grinding!.
• Reduced tooth weakness, tooth wear and fracture.
• Reduced prominence of the master jaw muscles.
• Quick, noticeable, long lasting result.
• No recovery time – you can return to work straight after the treatment.
• Botox treatment can be repeated after results wear off.

Q. What are the side effects after Botox treatment?
Most side effects are related to the actual act of injecting the skin, rather than the Botox itself. These include: minor redness, swelling around the injection site (which vanishes within 1 to 2 hours) and minor bruising.

Some patients experience headaches and there is a very small risk of infection around the entry point, which is minimised with our hygiene practices.

In rare cases, Botox injections in the jaw muscles can temporarily reduce bite strength. Full details will be discussed during your consultation.

Additional information:

• Botox lasts between 3-4 months.
• Results start to be visible between 1- 10 days.
• Complimentary Botox review required 2 weeks following initial procedure.

To maintain your results, we recommend that you repeat your Botox® treatment every two to three months as the effects wear off but this is usually a smaller dose.

We have found that the effects tend to last longer in patients who have had
several injections.