Teeth Clenching Treatment: Night Guard or Masseter Botox?

Why Does Teeth Clenching Happen, and How Is It Treated?

Tightness in your jaw when you wake up, a dull ache in your temples or your dentist warning you that your teeth are wearing down… The common source of these is often teeth clenching (bruxism). Teeth clenching treatment is not a single procedure; it is a plan that aims to protect the teeth, reduce the strength of the jaw muscle responsible for clenching and change the habits that trigger clenching, all together.

This plan has three main parts: a night guard made by the dentist, masseter botox applied to the chewing muscle, and addressing triggers such as stress and sleep patterns. In this article I explain what each one does, when it is not enough on its own and when they are planned together.

When the public thinks of Botox, forehead wrinkles and crow's feet always come to mind. However, the lower part of our face, our strong chewing muscle “masseter”, is the area that gets tired the most while fighting stress. Between traffic and work, we put all that burden on the jaw muscle by clenching our teeth at night while we sleep.

I can tell you this clearly: aesthetics is not always done just to become beautiful. Sometimes it is really done to say “oh, finally I am relaxed”.

Why does the masseter (chewing) muscle get so big?

Muscles have a simple logic: the muscle that works grows. Just like the arms grow when you go to the gym. The masseter is a chewing muscle located at the back corner of the jaw and is one of the strongest muscles in the human body. Normally, we only use this muscle when we eat and speak.

However, when stress, anxiety and sleep disorders come into play, we start to squeeze this muscle with high pressure (bruxism) for hours, especially at night during sleep. Over time, the muscle thickens (hypertrophy) as it repeats that intense training every night.

Aesthetically, this thickening leads to a squaring of the lower part of the face and a harsher expression. Medically, it can lead to worn teeth and head and neck pains that do not go away in the morning.

What Are the Symptoms of Teeth Clenching (Bruxism)?

My patients usually come with the following sentences: “I don't realize that I am clenching my teeth, but my wife can't sleep because of the noise” or “When I wake up in the morning, both sides of my face are stiff.” If you experience some of the following symptoms, you may have bruxism.

• Blunt pain in the jaw joint, in front of the ear or in the temples when you wake up in the morning.
• Enamel wear, flattening or unexplained tooth sensitivity that your dentist warns about.
• Your face, which used to be more oval, gradually starts to take a square shape in the mirror.
• Realizing that you involuntarily clench your teeth when you are stressed during the day.

If you want to see the medical definition of the subject more closely bruxism You can also take a look at independent sources on the subject.

What Methods Are Used to Treat Teeth Clenching?

• Night guard: A clear guard made to measure by the dentist prevents the teeth from grinding against each other and wearing down. It does not reduce the clenching force of the muscle.
• Masseter Botox: Temporarily reduces the contractile strength of the chewing muscle; it aims to relieve jaw pain and the intensity of clenching. The effect lasts 4-6 months on average.
• Addressing the triggers: Stress, irregular sleep, the habit of clenching the teeth during the day, and caffeine and alcohol in the evening can increase clenching. Managing these supports the effect of the other methods.

There is no one-off permanent cure for bruxism; the aim is to bring the intensity of clenching, pain and damage to the teeth under control. Assessing tooth wear and the jaw joint is the dentist’s field; I assess the jaw muscle and plan the Botox treatment. I explain the place of Botox in bruxism in a separate article: the role of Botox in teeth clenching

How Does Masseter Botox Work for Teeth Clenching?

Classic what is botox article, the basic aim of Botox is to give overactive muscles a short break from nerve signals. When the thickened masseter muscle at the corner of the jaw is treated, its contractile strength decreases. As it contracts less, it loses volume and becomes thinner, just as the muscles of someone who stops exercising shrink.

Thanks to this thinning, the angular look of the lower half of the face can soften over time; the jawline becomes slimmer and the face moves towards a more oval shape. That is why the treatment is also chosen by people bothered by a square jaw, not only by those who clench their teeth.

What Is the Masseter Botox Treatment Like?

The treatment is short; the procedure itself takes about 10-15 minutes.

• Consultation The first stage is a detailed analysis over coffee. By asking you to clench your teeth, we measure the size and asymmetry of the muscle.
• Implementation: It is done with very fine needles at a few points on each side; most patients feel a brief prick.
• Return to social life: Most people go back to work the same day; slight redness at the injection points fades quickly.
• Onset of effect: A decrease in clenching is usually felt within 1-2 weeks, while slimming of the face becomes visible in 4-8 weeks.

You can find what to pay attention to after the treatment and the factors that determine the price on our masseter botox page.

Night Guard or Masseter Botox?

Doctors you visit with the complaint of clenching teeth usually recommend “night plates” as a first remedy. So which one is better? Actually, the tasks of the two are different.

A clear guard protects the tooth enamel from friction but does not relax the muscle. You can keep clenching even with the guard in your mouth. So morning jaw pain and muscle enlargement may not stop with a guard alone.

In advanced bruxism with marked muscle enlargement and jaw pain, the approach we often prefer is to keep using the night guard to protect the teeth while reducing the excess strength of the muscle with masseter Botox. Whether one method or both are needed is decided after assessment by the dentist and the physician.

What are the Risks? What Do We Pay Attention to in the Procedure?

As with any aesthetic intervention, it is essential that this procedure is performed in competent hands, that is, by a medical doctor. The anatomy of this area is complex; right next to the masseter muscle are the mimic muscles that allow us to smile.

If the person performing the procedure does it by rote without knowing the anatomy of where to apply the medication, the toxin may accidentally slip into the laughing muscles. As a result, the patient may experience annoying situations such as an asymmetrical smile.

In addition, the dose of the drug should be specially calculated by the physician according to the muscle volume of the person. Procedures performed with the logic of “20 units for everyone” put both the result and health at risk.

I explain why smile asymmetry, a rare condition, occurs in my article on asymmetry after masseter Botox.

Who Is Masseter Botox Suitable For?

This treatment is considered for people with muscle-related widening of the jaw and complaints of teeth clenching. If you have jaw pain in the morning, temple pain and tooth wear, masseter Botox may be one of your options. If the fullness in the lower face comes from fatty tissue rather than muscle, we clarify this at the examination.

The procedure is postponed during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you have a neurological condition that affects the chewing function, we will make the decision together, carefully. The goal is always a safe and realistic result. If this is your first time, there is no need to worry; we will explain the process step by step and clarify your expectations together. The healthiest way to find out if you are the right candidate is a short examination and a sincere conversation.

Restore Your Quality of Life

In short, teeth clenching is a problem that can be brought under control. With the right plan, it is possible to wake up more rested, reduce jaw pain and protect your teeth.

We are always happy to welcome you for a coffee at our clinic in Caddebostan to discuss the right plan for you and answer all your questions. For details of the treatment, you can also take a look at our masseter botox page.

Dr. Melis Ulger

Medical Aesthetics Physician

With modern medical aesthetic approaches, I address your aesthetic concerns by offering personalized solutions and support you to gain a timeless appearance.

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