Botox for bruxism?

[admin]

Botox - Botulinum toxin
Most of you will have heard of `botox' (botulinum toxin). In recent years it's been used extensively for cosmetic purposes. When botox is injected into muscles, they become paralysed for about three or four months. Because of this botox can be used to treat muscle spasms. It's also often used to reduce and prevent wrinkles by injecting it into facial muscles.

What's this got to do with bruxism and teeth grinding?
Recently botox has been used to treat bruxism! The masseter muscles (the ones that control your jaw) are injected with a dose of botox. Greatly weakening it, and thereby reducing the force it can clench the teeth with. This means that wear on the teeth due to grinding is greatly reduced. Other bruxism symptoms such as damage to the TMJ (temporo-mandibular joint) and headaches should also be reduced or eliminated.

Another benefit to treatment with botox is that the masseter muscles should atrophy. Bruxers often have enlarged messeter muscles due to the extra excersize they get from strong grinding and clenching. This leads to even more rapid wearing of the teeth (as the muscles become stronger) and also altered facial appearance. This means that treatment of teeth grinding with botox should lead to a more normal (and presumable more attractive) facial appearance!

Downsides to botox
So far this all sounds wonderful but botox is no panacea!

First of all a single treatment of botox isn't cheap (upwards of £200). Second, botox is no cure, it's a control just like a nightguard; each treatment will only last around three to four months, then you need another treatment. This makes botox a rather expensive option when compared to nightguards, especially over-the-counter guards.

Treatment with botox also has the potential to go wrong. It's important that the dose is correct. If it's too low then the treatment will have little to no effect. If it's too high you may find yourself unable to eat solids! After all, the masseter muscles are there for a reason. Whilst treatment with botox aims to weaken the muscles, they need to remain strong enough to chew food. Botox, more accurately named `Botulinum Toxin', is a toxin! In fact it's the most toxic known protein. For this reason, doses given medically are kept very low and care must be taken to deliver it only to the correct area. Botox injections can also sometimes lead to bruising that lasts for around 6 weeks.

Summary
Bruxism and teeth grinding can be treated using injections of botox to the jaw muscles. Botox isn't a cure but rather a control and treatments are required every three to four months. The treatment may well be both more effective and more comfortable than nightguards for many people. However, it's an expensive option that will be out of reach for most. Treatment with botox has greater potential for complications when compared to nightguards, but has the added benefit of atrophying the jaw muscles leading to a more normal facial appearance.

What are your thoughts on the use of botox for teeth grinding? If you've tried it yourself please let us know how you got on and (if you don't mind) how much you paid!

[Guest]

i've had botox injections doing in both masseter muscles, i had one side done at a time. the results were noticable straight away, my headaches have reduced to occational :). The only negative thing i can say is that it is very no VERY painful as no LA is given, as this would be just as painful. but the pain is worth the results... and my husband is so pleased he can sleep at night again. i am also an epileptic and grind during seizures, now i don't even grind in seizures.

[admin]

Great to hear that botox has helped you so much! I didn't know about the pain factor. Does it hurt that much every time or only the first time? Can't they give a local anaesthetic in the form of a rub-on cream these days? I'm sure I've had something like that before. Didn't numb the pain completely though.

[Anon]

just noticed the comment on how much it cost.... i paid £0 for 2 sessions 1 on either side.
now august and i don't need a top up yet 8 months on, but i think i am heading for another top up prob in jan as my head aches are getting more frequent again but not to the stage i was at before on non-stop headaches

[admin]

£0? You mean the first time was free?! Do you know how much you will be paying for the top ups? It would be nice to get some idea of what the annual costs are for treating bruxism using botox. Especially as it sounds like such an appealing treatment. It's surprising that you haven't needed a top up until 8 months after the treatment. Most places claim that you need top-ups every 3 - 4 months. But if other people can get away with only every 8 months then that effectively halves the annual cost of the treatment!

[Guest]

I have been having botox in my masseter muscles for over a year (about every 3 months), this has changed my life!

Over the past 14 years I have been to chiropractors, Physio's, Osteo's, Masseurs, Acupuncturists etc etc and have spent an absolute fortune to no avail. Once I finally figured out it was my stressful life that was causing me to clench therefore the constant pain and migrane headaches, I thought why not try botox as I had tried everything else (as a highly strung person, its dam near impossible to become a relaxed one who won't clench anymore!. A lot of people would say to me "relax, stop stressing out etc", easier said than done)

I no longer get headaches, and no longer short tempered and no longer screw my face up and have people say "smile its not that bad" etc, driving me nuts.

Unfortunately, I now want to get pregnant therefore have not have botox for 4 months........its a nightmare and I don't know how I am going to cope without botox, fingers crossed I get pregnant quickly and have the baby so I can go back to being a happier better me all thanks to botox.

I highly recommend it for anyone with a busy, stressful life who just doesn't have time for headaches and sore muscles etc.

[Guest]

I have been having botox for nearly 2 years... At first I needed injections every 3-4 months, but it has lessened, and I now only need them every 6 months, and about half the amount of botox that was needed on my first visit!
I pay between $300 and $400, depending on the amount of botox .
It is expensive, but to me, worth every penny, due to the way it has changed my quality of life. I used to suffer from almost constant headaches, jaw aches, and increased anxiety from the stress of it. Personally I haven't suffered any side effects from the botox. It has been a wonder treatment, when nothing else had worked!
I'm surprised another user mentioned it was painful... each is just the same as an immunization jab, a small prick... as long as you don't have an issue with needles you should be fine [ I usually have 3 in each side] Also, it is not usual to feel the results right away, the botox takes at least a few days to "set", and you can really feel it set in fully at about week 2 or 3. Week 3-ish is usually the time I notice it if I have any particularly chewy food.
Hope this helps, and if you have any other questions, please ask!

[Guest]

Hi, I have quite a problem with bruxism, I don't grind my teeth I just snap my jaw together and clench it all night long. My face has completly changed shape and I have lost all of my self confidence. I have been having physiotherapy and hypnotherapy with no effect. I live in Gloucestershire (Forest of Dean), if anyone knows of a trusted place where I could get botox please e-mail me with details. It would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

rhianon888@yahoo.com

[randommandem]

honestly, botox seems a bit too pricey...you should definitely check out acupuncture. I know it sounds a bit awkward, but if grinding your teeth leads to other problems such as TMJ, then it certainly helps relieve the pain by releasing endorphins throughout your body.

[Guest]

i've suffering from bruxism for years now and no treatment seems to work for long. i did try the mouth gaurds but couldn't cope. did some research and decided to try some botox....and to my surprise my soreness in the jaw went away by a good 70% by week two....however, i did notice that i kept clenching...talked to the doctor who explained that botox will decrease the power i clench my teeth with because it will paralyze the maseter muscle however the process of bruxism (somewhere in the brain due to many factors) may not be affected....however, im pleased to say that after one year and 3 shots of botox i do feel im clenching less often....i used a clinic in harley street called cosmedocs who perform many of these jaw muscle reduction injections for cosmetics as well as people with clenching problems. I guess the injections are quite expensive...around £200-£250 but as a last resort definitely worth a try.