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Bruxism Treatment - Adelaide
Do you often wake up with a dull headache or a sore jaw? Do you sometimes find yourself clenching your teeth?
Bruxism is the medical term for excessive teeth grinding and jaw clenching. It is quite a common issue that affects roughly one in four adults and can lead to tooth damage, facial pain, migraines, and headaches. It is often an uncontrollable issue, occurring predominantly when individuals are asleep. Therefore, most individuals may not even realise they excessively grind their teeth.
For those individuals made aware and who suffer from the adverse symptoms of bruxism, we offer an effective and non-invasive solution using muscle relaxing injections. Previous treatment solutions such as mouth guards are basic, often treating the symptoms, not the cause. Muscle relaxing injections temporarily paralyse the jaw muscles, relaxing and weakening the muscles responsible for clenching.
The cosmetic injections effectively reduce the frequency of bruxism occurring, lessening the facial and jaw pain caused by this condition, and improving an individual’s overall comfort and lifestyle. The more treatments patients have, the longer the results will last, and most patients of this treatment find that it breaks the cycle of bruxism.
An added benefit to the muscle relaxant injection treatment is that it will slim down the lower facial area, as the jaw muscles, which are often enlarged due to overuse, are reduced in size. This creates a slimmer V-shaped face. However, for patients who want to maintain a fuller jawline, dermal fillers can be administered alongside the treatment for bruxism.
The Benefits
1)
Relieves pain and discomfort in the jaw and facial area.
2)
Does not disrupt sleep, unlike other bruxism treatments.
3)
Reduces headaches and migraines from occurring.
4)
Improves oral health and prevents further tooth damage.
5)
No significant downtime post-treatment.
6)
Immediately improves and reduces the occurrence of bruxism.
7)
Improves and enhances facial contours of the jaw and lower face.
8)
Prolonged treatments can treat the root of the cause, potentially eliminating bruxism over time.
How it works
What is bruxism?
The Masseter is the powerful muscle on the side of you cheek that enables you to bite and chew. It is important for two separate reasons
A large masseter muscle makes your jaw look square. A square jaw can actually look good on some men. In fact the band of muscle below the eye also gives a somewhat manly character. But it’s a different matter if it is too square, especially if you are a woman for it takes away that feminine oval face.
Medically, a large masseter is associated with teeth grinding and bruxism, or a pain in your jaw caused by spasm of the muscles
There is some suggestion that Bruxism is associated with Migraines. Certainly it can cause headaches though one of the migraine trigger zones is in the temples.
Is bruxism (teeth grinding) really a problem?
Bruxism can cause significant issues for suffering individuals. They often experience headaches, earaches, facial and jaw pain, chipped teeth, tooth sensitivity, and gum problems. Teeth grinding inadvertently builds the masseter muscle responsible for chewing located at the angle of the jaw. This means teeth grinding can put 20 times more pressure on teeth than normal chewing or biting, and as the muscle builds strength, the worse damage it does. Headaches often turn into migraines, and facial pain can become unbearable. Enlarged masseter muscles tend to make the lower facial area appear squarer and more severe in appearance, which can also be a problem for women who suffer from bruxism.
How do anti-wrinkle injections treat bruxism?
Anti-wrinkle injections are generally used to treat fine lines and wrinkles, often caused by ageing and everyday facial use such as smiling, laughing, and frowning. The injections work to smooth out these lines by essentially “freezing” the muscles in the area responsible for these wrinkles, preventing the muscles from contracting. Therefore, anti-wrinkle injections have become an effective solution for treating bruxism by temporarily paralysing the masseter muscles to weaken and significantly reduce excessive muscle activity. This prevents the muscles from developing further and essentially stops teeth grinding at its cause.
The treatment involves approximately five small injections deep into the masseter muscle on both sides of the face through the outer skin to the underlying muscle. Patients may experience a slight sting, but most find this treatment painless. Results will occur a few days after your treatment and can last for up to six months. At Advanced Cosmetic Medicine, we may advise you to come in for a reassessment and maintenance dose at some point. Most patients find their number of ongoing maintenance treatments reduces significantly as the cycle of bruxism slowly breaks
What should I expect after the treatment?
You may experience some mild swelling, tenderness, or bruising around the injection sites following your injectable treatment, which should disappear roughly a week after your treatment with proper aftercare. Some patients experience a mild headache depending on the treatment area, but paracetamol can mitigate this. Although you may experience some of these symptoms post-treatment, you will be able to continue your regular daily activities so long as you follow Dr Targett’s recovery instructions.
Are there any complications or risks?
Any cosmetic or medical procedures have the potential for complications and risks to occur. Some side effects are rare, and most can often be minimised through consultation and proper adherence to pre- and post-treatment instructions. Having your treatment performed by a medical professional such as Dr Targett is also crucial to ensure safe, optimal results with minimised risk. It is essential to understand this and be aware of the associated risks and complications, which can include:
- Headaches
- Swelling or bruising
- Muscle weakness
- Drooling or crooked smile
- Trouble swallowing or speaking
- Breathing problems
- Uncontrollable bladder
The Doctor
Dr Rahma Targett
Dr Rahma Targett is a General Practitioner(FRACGP), with a specialty in Cosmetic Medicine. She founded Advanced Cosmetic Medicine in 2016 and has since become well known as a trusted and in demand Cosmetic Physician in Adelaide. She has a Diploma in Dermoscopy and a Diploma in Aesthetic Medicine with the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine. Dr Targett is a leader in her field and regularly attends Cosmetic conferences to keep up to date with modern aesthetic techniques. At advanced Cosmetic Medicine you can always be reassured that you will be welcomed and treated personally by Dr Rahma Targett.
Bruxism is often not diagnosed or noticed for a while, with only 5% of individuals experiencing the significant symptoms. Usually, a sleeping partner or parent becomes aware of it before the sufferer due to the noise that teeth grinding can make, along with dentists who may notice chipped teeth or tooth damage. Once diagnosed, a proper treatment plan can combat the issue.
This will vary for every individual, based on their lifestyle, how often they chew or grind their teeth, their metabolism, the initial masseter muscle size, and anticipated outcomes. Eating chewy foods and the amount of uncontrollable grinding at night will also accelerate top-up treatments. Maintenance treatments may be as frequent as every eight weeks, but the ongoing nature of the treatment will decrease the need for more frequent treatments as the root cause of bruxism is treated.
Anti-wrinkle treatment sessions to treat bruxism only take roughly 15 minutes, providing an efficient and easy process. Patients can continue to go about their day after receiving the injections, as there is no downtime for such a treatment.
