Bruxism & Jaw Tension Treatment (Botulinum Toxin)

Bruxism — habitual grinding or clenching of the teeth, often at night — can overload the masseter muscles, leading to jaw tension, facial aching and wear on the teeth. Injecting botulinum toxin into the masseters reduces the strength of their contraction, which is commonly associated with relief of clenching-related tension; because the masseter also contributes to the width of the lower face, repeated treatment can give a subtly slimmer jaw contour as…

At Rivendell Clinic a physician examines the jaw, asks you to clench so the muscle bulk can be felt, and places a small number of injections into each masseter. The appointment takes around twenty to thirty minutes with minimal downtime; chewing very hard foods is best avoided for a short period. The effect typically develops over one to two weeks and is associated with a duration of around three to four months, after which the treatment can be repeated,…