Bruxism is the technical term for teeth grinding or clenching. It most often occurs when a person is asleep but can also occur when a person is awake. Teeth grinding can cause long-term pain, complicate dental health, and change the contours of the face. Generally, mouthguards, therapy, and treatment of contributing disorders are the first line of treatment. In mild cases, treatment may not be necessary.
Adults with severe bruxism that has not responded to other treatments and which causes them significant pain or complications may be good candidates for Botox for bruxism injections in Seattle.
Untreated teeth grinding can cause many painful symptoms and complications. People with milder forms of bruxism—particularly nocturnal teeth grinding—may not know they have it until one of these complications or symptoms appears or is spotted by their dentist. Possible consequences of inadequately treated bruxism may include:
Botox injections for bruxism can help prevent involuntary jaw movements that contribute to teeth grinding. Bruxism Botox can treat nocturnal or awake bruxism, but mostly commonly addresses nocturnal teeth grinding. By identifying the areas of jaw muscle overwork, an injector can use Botox to strategically limit these jaw movements. The goal is not to stop all jaw movement but to target the problem areas and prevent unconscious grinding or clenching.
The injection patterns and overall treatment look similar to Botox for TMJ. TMJ and bruxism are often related and Botox treatment for TMJ may help reduce teeth grinding symptoms too. Botox for bruxism injections are usually made in the masseter muscle and sometimes portions of the cheek and neck.
Botox belongs to a class of medications called neuromodulators. Botulinum toxin A is derived from a toxin that has been weakened and purified. When injected in small amounts, the freezing effects will act upon only certain muscles or portions of the muscle. This allows patients to prevent unwanted movements—such as those that contribute to bruxism or TMJ—and potentially lessen their symptoms.
Masseter muscle Botox for teeth grinding may not prevent all forms of teeth grinding all of the time. The aim is to significantly reduce instances of teeth grinding and jaw clenching so patients can find relief from pain and complications. Botox is frequently used in combination with other bruxism treatments.
Teeth grinding Botox treatment can offer many benefits and advantages, especially to patients who have no found relief from other treatment options. Possible benefits may include:
The first step to undergoing bruxism Botox in Seattle is to schedule a consultation with a provider at Allure Esthetic. During this consultation, the provider will want to understand the patient’s history with teeth grinding, other treatments they have tried, medical history, and expectations. If they fit the candidate profile, the provider will explain how the treatment works and set initial expectations.
The injections can take as little as ten to twenty minutes. The masseter muscle—one of the largest and strongest facial muscles—is usually the primary focus of Botox for teeth grinding. This means most injections are located toward the back part of the cheek and jaw. In some cases, injections can extend up to the temple and down through the neck, especially if treating TMJ.
Botox injections come with few post-procedure limitations. Patients can immediately return to work and most of their daily activities. Strenuous exercise or certain movements may be discouraged and patients should not lay down for at least a few hours after treatment. Some discomfort in the coming days is normal and patients can manage it with over-the-counter medications.
If traditional teeth grinding treatments like mouthguards have been ineffective at treating bruxism symptoms, Botox may be the natural next step. Unlike mouthguards which aim to limit the damage teeth grinding causes, Botox works to prevent the movements that contribute to bruxism. Botox is also not a daily treatment. The injections are administered every three to four months on average.
Other medications frequently prescribed for bruxism are muscle relaxers. Taken before bedtime, these medications can help but generally are only meant to offer short-term relief. Anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medications may help limit teeth grinding if stress or mental struggles are contributing to bruxism. Treating existing sleep disorders may also help patients address nocturnal teeth grinding.
Often, a combination of treatments or medications will best treat bruxism. Candidates for Botox for bruxism will be in good overall health and experience severe symptoms from teeth grinding. Botox only treats adults with teeth grinding and the results generally improve over time and with subsequent Botox sessions.
The exact cost of Botox for bruxism will vary depending on the number of units necessary, the size of the patient’s jaw and masseter muscle, and other factors. Patients will receive a personalized price quote at their consultation. They can also view our starting cost for Botox on our price list.
The Botox providers at Allure Esthetic Plastic Surgery in Seattle, WA take a patient-centric approach to treatment. In their state-of-the-art facility, they examine each patient and create a pattern of injection that best addresses their problem areas. Highly trained and working with experienced plastic surgeons, Allure Esthetic’s Botox injectors provide the best Botox for teeth grinding Seattle offers.
Patients may experience reduced teeth grinding or relief from symptoms in as little as a few days. With that said, it is important to understand that Botox for bruxism is a treatment that helps weaken the muscles responsible for teeth grinding with each treatment. Therefore, results tend to get better with subsequent Botox sessions.
Patients undergo Botox injections for bruxism every three to four months.
No, not long-term. Some patients may experience minor stiffness or pain when moving the jaw as side effects of the injections, but this should not hinder a patient’s ability to live, eat, and talk normally.
Patients may experience side effects like swelling, bruising, redness, stiffness, and soreness. Side effects often lessen with repeated treatment.
Botox injections are generally not too painful. But, some discomfort is expected. Injectors at Allure Esthetic use various methods to help limit pain during treatment. Luckily, the treatment is quick—lasting about 20 minutes on average—and patients can opt for numbing cream.
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