Botulinum Toxin for Bruxism (Masseter)

Botulinum toxin injected into the masseter muscles can ease the clenching and grinding of bruxism, reducing muscle overactivity and the jaw tension, tooth wear and headaches associated with it. As a dental practice, InDent treats bruxism alongside its restorative work, where heavy grinding can damage teeth and dental work. The same in-house aesthetic-medicine service also offers forehead and eye-area treatment. A clinician assesses suitability before treatment.

Bruxism — habitual clenching and grinding of the teeth, often during sleep — is driven in part by the powerful masseter muscles at the angle of the jaw. Injecting small, targeted doses of botulinum toxin into these muscles reduces how forcefully they contract, which is associated with relief from jaw tension, muscle-related headaches and the accelerated tooth and restoration wear that grinding can cause. Because InDent is a restorative dental practice, managing bruxism complements its work protecting teeth, crowns, veneers and implants from excessive load. The treatment is quick and carried out with a fine needle after the clinician has assessed your jaw, the pattern of muscle activity and your dental history. No anaesthetic is usually needed and you can return to normal activities the same day. The effect is not immediate: it develops gradually over the following days as the muscle activity settles, and it is temporary, typically wearing off over a number of months as movement returns, so periodic repeat treatment maintains the result. Over time, easing the grinding force is associated with a softer, less bulky jaw line in some patients as well as symptomatic relief. The clinic's in-house aesthetic-medicine service uses the same botulinum-toxin approach for facial areas such as forehead and glabellar lines and the eye area, each priced separately. Botulinum toxin is not used during pregnancy or breastfeeding; suitability, expectations and any contraindications are reviewed before treatment, and a night guard may also be recommended as part of managing bruxism.