Bruxism Treatment (Botulinum Toxin)

Botulinum-toxin injections into the masseter muscles to ease the muscle activity behind teeth grinding and jaw clenching (bruxism). By relaxing these powerful chewing muscles, the treatment may help reduce clenching force, associated jaw tension and the wear it places on teeth. It can also soften the appearance of a heavy jawline. Milanova performs the treatment as part of its aesthetic-medicine service, and also offers a night splint.

Bruxism — habitual grinding or clenching of the teeth, often during sleep — can lead to worn or sensitive teeth, jaw muscle tension, headaches and damage to dental work. One approach to managing it is to inject botulinum toxin into the masseters, the large muscles at the angle of the jaw that generate the clenching force. By partially relaxing these muscles, the treatment reduces the strength of involuntary clenching and grinding, which is associated with less jaw tension and reduced load on the teeth; as a side effect, slimming a strong masseter can also give the lower face a softer contour. At Milanova the treatment is carried out by the clinic's dentist who also works in aesthetic medicine, after assessing your symptoms and confirming bruxism is the cause. The injections take only a few minutes using a fine needle; there is essentially no downtime, and the muscle-relaxing effect develops over the following one to two weeks and typically lasts several months before a top-up is considered. The clinic may recommend combining it with — or instead using — a hard Michigan relaxation splint worn at night to protect the teeth, depending on your situation. Botulinum toxin for bruxism is suitable for adults whose clenching is muscular in origin; it is not used in pregnancy or breastfeeding, and the dentist reviews your suitability, the likely benefit and any contraindications before treatment.