Bruxism and orofacial harmonization

Santiago Palacio, Oral and maxillofacial surgery at Oralmaax

In chargeSantiago Palacio · Oral and maxillofacial surgery

Format

Outpatient, no surgery

Follow-up

Every 3 to 4 months if you use botulinum toxin

Goal

Relieve muscle tension in the jaw

Bruxism is clenching or grinding your teeth, often while you sleep and without realizing it. Over time it wears down the enamel and can cause jaw pain and headaches. At Oralmaax we treat it together with orofacial harmonization, which uses botulinum toxin and hyaluronic acid.

The goal is to protect your teeth and lower the tension in your jaw muscles. Depending on your case, we combine a night guard for sleeping, botulinum toxin in the masseter muscles and, as a complement, hyaluronic acid to harmonize the lower part of the face.

What it includes

Evaluation of your bite, your jaw and the wear on your teeth.
Defining the plan: night guard, botulinum toxin or both.
Taking measurements and delivering the night guard, fitted to your mouth.
Regular check-ups; with botulinum toxin, the session is repeated every 3 to 4 months.

When does it make sense?

If you wake up with jaw pain or a headache, with sensitive teeth, if you notice wear on the edges of your teeth or if someone has told you that you grind your teeth at night, it’s worth getting evaluated. Bruxism is controlled more than fully cured, but treating it early prevents bigger damage to your teeth.

“Sleep without clenching, wake up without pain.”

See the other services

How do you know if you have bruxism?

You wake up with jaw pain

Or with sensitive teeth, especially first thing in the morning.

Frequent headaches when you wake up

Jaw muscle tension can radiate to your temples.

Visible wear on the edges of your teeth

Teeth that look shorter or flatter than expected for your age.

Your partner or family has told you that you grind your teeth at night

Nighttime bruxism is often only noticed by whoever sleeps nearby.

Treatment options

Night guard

A removable device you wear while you sleep to protect your teeth from wear caused by clenching or grinding.

Botulinum toxin

Relaxes the masseter muscles to reduce tension and clenching force; the effect lasts several months.

Hyaluronic acid

Used for the aesthetic harmonization of the lower third of the face, as a complement to bruxism treatment.

Frequently asked questions

Can bruxism be cured?

It's controlled more than fully “cured.” The goal is to protect your teeth and reduce muscle tension.

How long does the botulinum toxin effect last?

Between 3 and 4 months on average; after that, a new maintenance session is needed.

Does the night guard hurt?

No, it's custom-fitted to your mouth and you only wear it while you sleep.

Is it the same as a cosmetic treatment?

Botulinum toxin and hyaluronic acid are also used for cosmetic purposes, but here the main focus is treating bruxism, and the aesthetic result is an added benefit.