Problems caused by teeth clenching
- In bruxism, intense pressure is applied to the teeth, tooth roots and jaw joint. This usually causes pain first in the jaw joint, then in the ears, temples, neck and head.
- Over time the excess pressure leads to wear and fracture of the teeth and damage to dental prostheses.
- Alongside tooth, jaw, head and neck pain, morning tiredness, fatigue, reluctance to speak and an inability to open the jaw fully are seen.
- Inside the jaw joint, reduced joint fluid can cause wear, with clicking, locking, limited function and pain when opening and closing the jaw.
- On examination, shortened teeth and fine surface cracks caused by heavy clenching are seen, and enamel fractures and broken restorations may occur without any trauma. Constant grinding shortens the teeth and reduces the distance between the nose and chin.
How is botox applied for teeth clenching?
Masseter botox takes about 5 to 10 minutes and is painless; no anaesthetic cream or injection is needed, and social life can be resumed immediately. Applications 3 to 4 months apart, repeated a few times, are generally recommended. Each session weakens the overdeveloped masseter a little more toward normal strength and reduces the damage clenching causes to the teeth and jaw joint.
The number of units per point, the injection sites and the interval between sessions are determined individually. High doses or wrong injection points can cause chewing weakness or problems with the smile muscles, so this is a specialised application that should be performed by physicians experienced in it.
When does the effect appear?
The effect begins 4 to 7 days after the application and is fully established at the check-up on day 15.