Now and then a patient has asked us about treating bruxism with Botox. In this post we are going to explain why it is not a good long-term solution for patients who grind their teeth.
Let us start at the beginning.
What is bruxism?
Bruxism is a disorder that involves unconsciously clenching the teeth, generally at night while the person is asleep. The origin of bruxism is not clearly defined, although the scientific community does accept it as a condition with a nervous component that translates into contraction of the chewing muscles.
As you would expect, bruxism causes tooth wear. The adverse effects can be even more significant, since some patients may fracture a tooth and later need it rebuilt, and it can even cause the gums to recede. The ongoing effect of bruxism can sometimes damage the joint and, as a result, cause various complications: uncomfortable clicking, problems or limitations when opening the mouth, or issues with the jaw.
But we should clear something up: the fact that Botox is effective against contraction of the facial muscles does not mean the same will happen with the jaw muscles. For now, what Botox achieves when it is used for bruxism is that the person clenches less, but on a completely temporary basis. So Botox is not effective against the clenching that causes patients so much discomfort.
How can bruxism be treated for good?
Night guards are a treatment most people have heard of. By wearing a guard at night, the patient protects the teeth from the excessive wear caused by clenching and avoids the muscle overload that goes with it.
However, this solution (it is not a treatment in itself) is also a palliative one that does not solve the problem at its root.
If you grind your teeth, we recommend coming to our clinic so we can study your case and solve the problem at its source, which is often a badly positioned bite that we can correct with orthodontic treatment.
At Clínica Peydro we specialize in clear aligners, dental implants and esthetic dentistry
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