Jaw Muscle Relaxing for Bruxism

If appropriately assessed and diagnosed, muscle relaxing injections can be extremely beneficial for treating bruxism.

We have found that treatment can really help those who can’t tolerate wearing a dental splint to stop the grinding, so it is a useful alternative.

It’s important to be aware that bruxism can be triggered by stress, impacting how long results last, so it’s beneficial to control certain triggers to achieve optimal results.

Yes, we always recommend reviewing your condition with a dentist.

They can conduct further assessments and investigations to identify the exact cause or triggers to help alleviate symptoms and find an appropriate solution, which may involve introducing a splint alongside adjunctive treatment.

Identifying the cause of your bruxism is the first step to successful results.

As stress is a major trigger of teeth grinding, we may recommend management tools for this first. We’ll then explain how botulinum toxin could help, giving you all the information you need to consider before booking treatment.

Your consultation is the perfect opportunity to ask questions and really understand the expected results, potential side effects and downtime associated with this procedure.

As with all injectable treatments, we’ll mark up where we need to place the product to achieve the most effective results.

For bruxism, this will likely be in your masseter muscle along your jawline. Using an ultra-fine needle, we’ll deposit the botulinum toxin in a quick and relatively pain-free manner, ensuring the procedure is as comfortable as possible.

Once complete, we’ll remind you of aftercare and book your review appointment to ensure you are satisfied with the results.

After the first few days, your bruxism symptoms should start to alleviate.

You may notice that you’re sleeping better and that your jaw feels less tense. Optimal results should be in effect by week six when we will see you for your review appointment.

Results will typically last three to four months before the product will dissolve, and the clenching/grinding may start again due to increased muscle activity. It is important to be aware that stress can lead to the early recurrence of bruxism, so managing triggers is key to maintaining a positive outcome.

After your treatment for bruxism, you may notice that you have slightly less clenching force.

You can be assured, though, that your jaw movements will still be very functional. You may also notice that your lower face appears slimmer following the procedure.

As with any injectable treatment, slight redness and swelling are normal for about a day afterwards. Mild bruising may be noticeable for a few days without makeup.

You will be fully informed of all potential outcomes during your consultation.