Advanced treatments - Bruxism (teeth grinding)
Bruxism is the clinical word used to describe grinding of the teeth and clenching of the jaw muscles. The main muscles involved in chewing are called the masseter and the temporalis (on both sides of the face) as illustrated in the picture below:
Teeth clenching is a common problem that occurs in many people at some point during their lives. In most people it is mild and does not cause symptoms.
Bruxism may occur in the day or night, but noctural bruxism during sleep causes the majority of problems. It is more common in women. Whilst the causes for bruxism are not fully understood, it is believed to be an unconscious behavoir that develops into a habit. This is why most patients who suffer with bruxism tend to teeth grind at night for lengthy periods, unaware of their actions.
Certain groups of patients have been shown to suffer from bruxism more commonly. These groups include sufferers of certain common sleep disorders (sleep walkers, heavy snorers), smokers and people under stress. Nevertheless, bruxism is an extremely common complaint that affects people of all backgrounds.
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What are the symptoms of bruxism?
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Treating bruxism with botulinum toxin
Botulinum toxin, whilst popularly used to treat wrinkles, was originally developed to treat diseases of muscle spasticity (stiffness) such as cerebal palsy in children. Bruxism can be regarded as a disorder of the repetitive and unconscious use of the masseter muscles. The masseters are located on the sides of the face and can be felt when the teeth are clenched.
In the treatment of bruxism, botulinum toxin works by weakening the muscle enough to reduce the effects of grinding and clenching. The small dose however does not prevent chewing or use of the jaw. By utilising botulinum toxin, the cycle of teeth clenching can be broken and the resulting symptoms treated. The procedure involves a small number of painless injections into each masseter muscle. This takes just a few minutes and patients usually notice the benefits within 2 weeks.
