If you wake up with tightness and soreness along the sides of your face or find yourself clenching your jaw when you’re stressed, you might suffer from bruxism, a common condition in which you unconsciously grind and press your teeth together. Not only can it lead to issues like tooth damage and wear, but it can also change the shape of your face. However, did you know that you can use BOTOX® for bruxism? Read on to learn more and see if this treatment is right for you.
Bruxism can make your jaw square and change the shape of your face because it slowly enlarges your masseter muscle. This muscle, located near your outer cheek and jawline, becomes visibly bulky when overworked.
Much like you can build muscle mass in your arms and legs with repetitive exercise, the masseter can also grow. However, since bruxism is unintentional, it can be hard to stop. Over time, the muscle gets larger and more prominent, creating a square, undefined jawline.
While BOTOX does not permanently “get rid“ of bruxism, neurotoxin injections to relax your masseter muscle are a great way to temporarily address the problem, treat a square jaw, and even address pain symptoms. BOTOX and Dysport are both options to prevent the muscle from overworking and help it shrink back down to its normal size. The result is a slimmer and more contoured lower face.
The process involves injecting small amounts of BOTOX into the masseter muscle across multiple sessions. The number of sessions required will vary based on how well the treatment is received. Typically, patients receive a follow-up dose every four months.
BOTOX is often a successful treatment for nocturnal bruxism when administered into the masseter muscle. Since BOTOX functions by temporarily relaxing the muscles, it can assist in preventing jaw clenching and grinding.
Patients who get masseter muscle BOTOX or Dysport tend to look like they have lost weight. That is because their lower face is not as full and prominent as it once was. As an added benefit, they may experience a reduction in pain and other symptoms related to teeth grinding.
Masseter BOTOX, also known as jaw BOTOX, can also help treat asymmetry in the lower face. It works well to even out one side of the masseter that has gotten bulkier than the other. By slimming down the lower face, this treatment often helps the cheekbones look stronger and more sculpted.
Not only can BOTOX help improve the look of your face, but studies have also found that BOTOX in low doses may help with pain associated with bruxism. Patients injected with 10 MU of BOTOX saw a significant decline in pain from bruxism.
Using BOTOX for teeth grinding has many benefits, including:
Masseter BOTOX provides a semi-permanent solution with results typically lasting between 4 to 9 months. The impact of BOTOX is temporary and will gradually revert to its initial state within 4–6 months.
For the best results, it is recommended to schedule follow-up treatments every four to six months.
Typically, the cost of a single jaw BOTOX treatment ranges from $200 to $700. Various factors, such as symptom severity, the type of injections required, and the size of the masseter muscles, play a role in determining the final cost. For more comprehensive treatments, like multiple injections or larger doses, the cost may increase.
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders encompass a range of conditions impacting the jaw joint and the muscles responsible for controlling jaw movement. TMJ disorders may result in a misaligned jaw, leading to an uneven bite and asymmetrical facial features.
Experiencing a TMJ disorder may result in facial changes like a misaligned chin or an uneven smile. A TMJ disorder can also lead to teeth grinding, resulting in tooth wear and difficulty smiling.
As with bruxism, you can use BOTOX to help manage the pain caused by TMJ or address cosmetic issues on your face as a result of TMJ. However, BOTOX treatment may include side effects. In some cases, the side effects are mild and worth eradicating the pain from bruxism or TMJ.
If you use BOTOX for TMJ, you may experience headaches, a flu-like illness, a respiratory infection, nausea, and/or temporary eyelid droop.
BOTOX can also cause your smile to look “fixed“ because it paralyzes the muscles in your face where it’s injected. Other side effects might include pain, muscle weakness, some redness at the injection site, and bruising where your doctor injected your muscles.
You could be a few injections away from a slimmer face. Call (786) 618-5039 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Shaun Patel. Miami Skin and Vein welcomes patients from Miami, Coral Gables, Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and nearby areas of Florida.
