Dental Monthly
BOTOX for BRUXISM
Botox to treat bruxism!?! Yes, we do that at Studio Moll….
But what is meant by Bruxism?
Bruxism is the involuntary, and often unnoticed, act of clenching and grinding of teeth exerting extremely high forces (>100kg/mm2) on the enamel. It can present itself in various forms, more or less mild, but your dentist will be able to diagnose it if you have doubts. It is a very common disorder.
Episodes of bruxism can occur several times during the night, but also during the day. Its most acute form takes place during REM sleep, the dream phase. The sound a person produces is loud and very disturbing. It might wake you up, or wake up your partner or the whole household. Yes, this means sleepless nights, as with SNORING.
During the day we might brux during moments of strong stress (sport) or concentration (work).
Symptoms:
1/ Excessive irreversible wear of enamel. The dental arches (see image) collapse and vertical facial height diminishes while horizontal features augment. This happens because the muscles on the sides of your cheeks swell (=hypertrophy). Just as a bodybuilder’s muscle increase following excessive loads, so the face takes on a squared and angled appearance. (Ridge-like in tv sitcom Bold & Beautiful).
The lips curl inward or outward and while speaking and sometimes, even when laughing, you don’t show any teeth.
You simply loose your smile….!!
2/Pain in the joints near your ears(=TMJ), causing headaches and numerous other pathologies like clicks and irreversible wear of joints etc.
3/Pain in teeth: Wearing them down, they become very sensitive and eventually the nerve might be exposed. This means root-canal treatments because the tooth’s length is. Abfraction caused by excessive forces.
4/NO dental implants: It is a contraindication for implant therapy. Bruxists patients have a higher chance of losing or breaking their implants because of excessive forces.
Usually, a night guard is prescribed to prevent nocturnal bruxism. But what can be done during the day….? The teeth will be damaged any way if they are not also protected during the day.
We have found that for day-grinders or clenchers, a remedy is the infiltration of Botox, which can be used in association with, or as an alternative to classic therapies (night guard, orthodontics, muscle relaxant drugs).
What is the effect of Botox in Bruxism?
Botox is a medicine that slows down or eliminates the muscles’ impulses reducing their contractions and strength. It’s effect is temporary and completely reversible within 6 months of administration.
How is the infiltration carried out and in which muscles, and does it hurt?
The infiltration is usually a painless procedure.
The masseter muscle in your cheeks is infiltrated at 3 single points. If necessary, the muscles on the side of your forehead involved in the clenching are also infiltrated at 1 point. You can identify the muscles yourself placing a finger there while clenching and relaxing.
The full effect of the treatment is usually seen or felt after 2 weeks. The relaxation of these treated muscles also softens the features and gives the lower contour of the face a less squared, more oval and harmonious appearance. The treatment can be repeated after 6 months.
Are there side effects?
Side effects are very rare and modest: soreness after infiltrations. Like a bruise, it disappears after several days. Some muscle fatigue may occur during chewing in the first 2 weeks, in rare cases, but afterwards it disappears.
Of course we use Botox also for all its well known famous aesthetic facial treatments. Simply to create relaxed and invigorated facial skin. From the front to the neck.
And we also apply it to treat sagging jaw contours and the neck, where fillers are not indicated. See this article.
BIO
For any questions, you can contact Studio Moll
Whatsapp: 331-6368628, or tel: 055-755347
For more information, look up Studio Moll’s YouTube channel and here too.
By Dr. Elena Speranza Moll
Studio Moll
Via Amilcare Ponchielli 21B, 50018 Scandicci –Firenze
Tel: 055-755347
WhatsApp: 331-6362682
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