Bruxism Treatment
Bruxism is the medical term for unconscious teeth clenching and grinding.
Bruxism is the medical term for unconscious teeth clenching and grinding, either while awake or asleep, which can lead to physical pain and severe dental problems. Chronic teeth grinding can cause headache, earaches, facial pain, and even migraines. Dental problems from bruxism include loss of tooth enamel, increased tooth sensitivity, and flattening and/or chipping of the teeth. Bruxism sufferers who grind and clench their teeth while sleeping frequently wake up with a sore jaw. Hypertrophy of the masseter muscle, which may lead to the appearance of a severe square jaw, is another side effect of bruxism.
The answer to Bruxism is Botox! We treat this condition by expertly injecting Botox into the masseter muscles (the muscle that runs down the cheek, and is responsible for chewing as well as opening and closing the jaw). It works particularly well for those suffering from Bruxism. It works by immobilizing the muscles causing the symptoms. Botox temporarily relieves the tension in the jaw that causes pain and difficulty speaking, chewing, and swallowing. This treatment may also alleviate headaches experienced due to Bruxism and prevents involuntary movements such as grinding and clenching.
After the injection of a neuromodulator (e.g. Botox Cosmetic / Dysport / Xeomin), the purified protein will work its way into the treated areas, and you will begin to feel and see some changes in approximately 2 - 3 days. The full treatment effect is two weeks from your treatment date.
Possible side effects include:
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Pain
- Redness
- Discolouration
- Itching and
- Tenderness at the injection site
These side effects may last for a couple hours after your treatment.
You may take Tylenol, if allowed by your family doctor. While it is rare, these side effects, including red or swollen bumps, may last for 2 - 3 days post treatment.
Avoid wearing make-up over the injection sites for the remainder of the day, however if needed, you may apply make-up after 6 hours post treatment using gentle pressure.
For 1 hour: Exercise the areas that were treated (e.g. practice frowning, raising your eyebrows or squeezing your eyes closed).
For 3 hours: Remain upright (do NOT lie down) and do not rub the treated areas.
For 24 hours: Refrain from strenuous physical activity, hot tub, sauna, facials, alcohol or aspirin/Advil.
We recommend that you book your follow-up appointment for two weeks from your treatment. The purpose of the follow-up is to confirm that we have the correct recipe for your initial and future treatments, especially after your first neuromodulator treatment with us. We will take your two week after photos at this follow-up for medical purposes.
Your neuromodulator treatment is a temporary treatment with results lasting approximately 3 months. By consistently receiving neuromodulator treatments, based on your medical professional’s recommendation, over time the results may last longer than 3 - 4 months and require fewer units to maintain a similar treatment result.
