Dr. Karen Horton has either authored or reviewed and approved this content.
Botox® Cosmetic is well known as a treatment for facial wrinkles, but this product has many other effective and therapeutic uses. We’ve posted about Botox® as a treatment for excessive underarm sweating (hyperhidrosis), but did you know it can also be used to treat teeth grinding and clenching?
Bruxism, commonly known as teeth grinding, is a condition that affects both men and women. People with bruxism may clench or grind their teeth when they are awake, and many also grind their teeth while they are sleeping. Severe bruxism can lead to jaw disorders, tooth damage, headaches, and other problems. Treatment for bruxism often involves mouth guards, dental correction, or physical therapy. In recent decades, patients have found tremendous relief by using Botox® as a treatment for bruxism.1
Botox® is a neurotoxin that is commonly used for cosmetic purposes because it can temporarily relax facial muscles to smooth lines and wrinkles. However, Botox® can also be used to relax the jaw muscles (masseters) that tense up leading to bruxism. Injections of Botox® weaken the masseter muscle just enough to ease the symptoms of bruxism, but not so much that chewing or talking is affected.2
Benefits of Botox® for Bruxism include:
As an added benefit, many patients who suffer from bruxism develop enlarged masseter muscles to the extent that it causes a more pronounced or square appearance to the jawline. After treatment with Botox®, they may notice a slimmer, more “V-shaped” jawline.
During a Botox® for bruxism treatment session with Emily Sespaniak, NP, cold packs will be applied to the treatment area before injection to help ease any discomfort. A small needle is used to administer the treatment, and the process typically takes less than 10 minutes. Results last 4-6 months on average.
"I'd been experiencing severe daily headaches for several years. I went to Emily Sespaniak for masseter Botox and have been amazed. It worked after several days and has been near 100% relief. Emily was gentle and kind and I'm truly appreciative to have found her!" - Sent from a very happy patient
„If you are bothered by jaw clenching and/or teeth grinding, you may benefit from Botox® treatment for bruxism at our San Francisco Plastic Surgery office. Contact us today to schedule a consultation!
1 Mayo Clinic. Bruxism. Available: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bruxism/symptoms-causes/syc-20356095#:~:text=Bruxism%20(BRUK-siz-um,a%20sleep-related%20movement%20disorder. Accessed April 7, 2022.
2 Fernández-Núñez T, Amghar-Maach S, Gay-Escoda C. Efficacy of botulinum toxin in the treatment of bruxism: Systematic review. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2019;24(4):e416-e424. Published 2019 Jul 1. doi:10.4317/medoral.22923. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6667018/. Accessed April 7, 2022.
Dr. Karen Horton has either authored or reviewed and approved this content.
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Dr. Karen M. Horton
2100 Webster St UNIT 520
San Francisco, CA 94115
Phone: 415.923.3067
We are located in the Pacific Heights District in the Pacific Professional Building.
Monday-Friday: 9am - 5pm
Saturday-Sunday: Closed
Monday:
9 AM to 5 PM
Tuesday:
9 AM to 5 PM
Wednesday:
9 AM to 5 PM
Thursday:
9 AM to 5 PM
Friday:
9 AM to 5 PM
Saturday:
Closed
Sunday:
Closed
Dr. Karen M. Horton
2100 Webster St UNIT 520
San Francisco, CA 94115
Phone: 415.923.3067
We are located in the
Pacific Heights District
in the Pacific Professional Building.
SHOP SKIN CARE*Please note: Our office is no longer a Participating Provider for insurance. We can provide a financial quote for what anticipated surgical fees will be after your consultation.
