Grinding & Clenching
EASE TEETH GRINDING & CLENCHING- BOULDER, CO
EASE TEETH GRINDING & CLENCHING
If you grind your teeth when you’re not eating food, you may have a condition known as bruxism. Constant grinding and clenching may cause your teeth to wear down over time. They may become shorter and eventually break. Tooth grinding can affect more than just your teeth, too – you may face pain and stiffness in the jaw, frequent headaches, migraines, insomnia or depression.
The good news is that Dr. Alexandria Russ offers a non-invasive bruxism treatment that comes with minimal pain and virtually no downtime. Botox injections can help alleviate the muscle soreness due to bruxism and it will remove the pressure on the teeth due to grinding that can literally break the teeth. It will also reprogram the brain and teaches it not to over-use the muscles.
WHAT IS BOTOX FOR GRINDING AND CLENCHING?
Botox is an injectable that is often used to temporarily treat wrinkles that appear when you make certain facial expressions. It has also been FDA-approved to treat bruxism, headaches, and migraines and is widely used by neurologists and pain specialists. Depending on what muscles are causing the issue, Dr. Alexandria Russ performs a detailed evaluation of all the muscles of the head, face, and neck and will exactly determine how many units of Botox each muscle needs in order to treat the symptoms. The main muscles that are engaged in bruxism are Masseter, Medial and Lateral Pterygoid, and Temporalis.
REASONS FOR BOTOX FOR GRINDING AND CLENCHING
Dr. Alexandria Russ recommends Botox as the ideal treatment and maintenance protocol of bruxism and may combine it with medications, mouth guards, stress management techniques, physical therapy and chiropractic techniques to fully bring the condition under control.
WHAT DOES BOTOX FOR GRINDING AND CLENCHING INVOLVE?
During a bruxism treatment, Dr. Alexandria Russ will make a thorough assessment of all the muscles involved, trigger points, referred pain area and will inject Botox into the muscles that are involved. The injection will weaken the muscle and will teach your brain not to overuse it. This weakening will only eliminate the amount of overuse (hypertrophy) of the muscles and you can still function and eat and chew properly but without breaking and chipping your teeth. You’ll be out of our office in less than 30 minutes and can resume work and your daily activities right away. It will take between 3 days to two weeks for the effects to fully show, that’s why Dr. Alexandria always recommends the minimum dose and will reevaluate after two weeks to see if any of the muscles need any more units of Botox.
WHAT RESULTS WILL I SEE?
While Botox is not a cure for bruxism, you may find that it can control its symptoms better than other treatments and it’s effective 24/7- as opposed to a night guard which only protects you at night. The results of this teeth grinding treatment will typically last for 4-6 months. This treatment also will have a slimming effect of the jaw which can be observed 6 weeks after treatment.
Before and After
Are You Ready to Find the Relief You Deserve?
A consultation with Dr. Birnbach or Dr. Russ will determine the best approach for you. Contact Boulder Smiles to learn more about our Botox therapy options in Boulder, CO!
