I was wondering if botox or another injection can help with bruxism?

Question

Hello, I am a teeth grinder at night and sometimes in the day without noticing. I was wondering if botox or another injection can help with bruxism? I have heard of this before. Will fillers change the way my face looks (will it appear larger or smaller, sharper, rounder etc..) if I were to get a procedure done for teeth grinding?

Jeffrey R. Raval, MD, FACS, MBA · Answer

Botox injections help calm mandibular muscles that you use to clench your jaw and grind your teeth. To treat bruxism, I inject several tiny doses of Botox into the master muscle on each side of the jaw – near the joint, in front of each ear. Results take 3 or 4 days to kick in, about 10-14 days to reach their peak, and the injections last about 3 months.

Lillian Overman, MD · Answer

Panda, your idea is a good one. Even though a night-guard could protect your teeth from damage, the force on your jaw will prematurely damage your jaw  joints (TMJs). I have found Botox to be a very good treatment for this condition. It has helped to  break the grinding habit in several of my patients as well as protect their teeth and jaws joints.
 The chewing muscles are located at the corners of the jaw near the ears. When these muscles enlarge (hypertrophy) it can give the face a heavy and masculine appearance. I have as many patients asking for Botox to improve their facial shape as to treat bruxism. The face ends up being more oval.

Brent Moelleken, MD · Answer

Botulinum toxin can be used in different muscles, for bruxism, grinding, migraines and TMJ problems.  Careful diagnosis and focused treatment is necessary to optimize the outcomes.

Ramandeep Sidhu, MD · Answer

Botox can be used in the masseter muscle to help reduce the grinding of the teeth. It also gives your face a slimmer look if the muscle is prominent.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Yes, Botox can be used for this. It will slim the masseter. Botox results resolve in 3-4 months. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Chad C. Zatezalo, MD · Answer

This works well but it will likely make your face look less round.  You can clench your teeth when you look in the mirror then unclench and you will see the effect.... make sure you are injected by someone who does this.... units depend on muscle mass.... good luck.
Dr Z

Kevin Tehrani, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for the detailed question. Botox or other neuromodulators can be injected into the masseter muscle to help relax it and ease jaw pain caused by Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ). It can also help cause the muscle to atrophy and decreasing the squareness of a jaw line. Fillers such as hyaluronic acids can be used to refine the shape of a patient's face but does not work like Botox and cannot help relax muscles. I recommend seeing a board-certified plastic surgeon or expert injector to discuss your concerns and who can develop the right treatment plan for you. For more information please visit our webpage.

Paul L. Leong, MD, FACS · Answer

Filler would not help with symptoms of Bruxism (teeth grinding).  Filler is used to fill in lines and folds as well as augment certain areas of the face.  On the other hand, Botox or Dysport can be injected into the masseter muscle to weaken it. By relaxing this muscle, it can ultimately slim down the lower portion of the face and create a more feminine jawline. Botox and Dysport both take up to 2 weeks to take full effect but can last 3-4 months. Patient who receive repeat injections for teeth grinding or tight jaw clenching will often get some degree of pain relief too,

Myriam Loyo, MD · Answer

Yes! Botox can be used to weaken the muscles that are contributing to teeth grinding. In my practice I mostly treat the masseteric muscle, which is on the side of the cheek. I treat the masseteric muscles to slim the lower part of the face and it also helps with bruxism (there is a photo in my profile of before and after if you want to check it out). You can also discuss with your dentist to hear about other recommendations such as night guard or using botox in other facial muscles (like the temporalis).Hope this helps. Good luck!

Jessica H. Kim, MD, FAAD · Answer

Botox has been very effective for bruxism or chronic teeth grinding.  With bruxism, the masseter muscles begin to thicken from overuse, causing the face to become more square or masculine.  By relaxing this muscle with botox or other neuromodulators, teeth grinding improves and the muscle relaxes to slim the face.  Consult with an experienced and board-certified physician.

I was wondering if botox or another injection can help with bruxism?

Answers (17)

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