Bruxism (teeth grinding)

Bruxism is the medical term for a person grinding or clenching their teeth at night. As this is an unconscious behaviour, bruxism is often only identified at a late stage. Possible indications of teeth grinding include toothache, jaw pain, headaches, jaw tension and tooth wear.

The causes of teeth grinding are wide-ranging. Tooth displacement and poorly adapted dentures are just two potential causes; the consumption of certain medication and alcohol can also contribute to the issue. In many cases, psychological factors such as stress and inner restlessness are the triggers. The severe strain can lead to a person grinding their teeth or clenching them together tightly at night.

Dental treatments for teeth grinding often involve bite splints, also known as night guards or teeth guards. Yet, while these devices protect your teeth against further damage, they do nothing to solve the problem itself. We use Botulinum toxin to treat teeth grinding at our clinic in St. Gallen, which achieves a lasting reduction in muscle activity. This muscle relaxation often leads to enhanced sleep and improved well-being overall.

Night-time teeth grinding exerts very strong forces on the teeth and jaws. This can cause lasting damage and impair the proper functioning of the masticatory apparatus. With this in mind, we recommend having teeth grinding investigated and treated as early as possible at our clinic in St. Gallen. Our Botulinum toxin treatment for bruxism allows us to provide swift relief without the need for a prolonged course of treatment.

Following the Botulinum toxin treatment, you should avoid physically strenuous activities for at least 24 hours. You should also avoid visiting the sauna and solarium for 3 to 5 days. We also recommend that you do not massage the treated areas and avoid exposing them to direct sunlight for several days.

The term “V-shape” is used to describe a facial contour that is most pronounced around the cheekbone and becomes narrower moving down to the chin. This facial shape is considered particularly aesthetic and feminine due to its harmonious proportions. Although young people naturally often have a slightly V-shaped face, these proportions can change in the course of the ageing process – or due to bruxism.

Severe teeth grinding often results in a hardening of the masticatory muscles. This can cause a person’s jaw region to appear harsh and angular. By injecting Botulinum toxin to combat teeth grinding, we relax the large masticatory muscle (masseter). This reduces muscle activity, so the muscle relaxes and reduces in size. Consequently, the patient’s facial features appear softer and more in line with the aesthetic V-shape.

Before administering the treatment itself, we will invite you to a personal consultation at our clinic in St. Gallen. We will ask you about your complaints and how you currently feel about your facial features. He will then outline how Botulinum toxin treatment for teeth grinding could help to solve these issues. In addition, he will provide a detailed explanation of how Botulinum toxin could help you achieve aesthetic, slimmer facial contours.

The treatment itself is performed on an outpatient basis and only lasts around 15–20 minutes. After cleaning and disinfecting the skin, we inject low doses of the botulinum toxin directly into the large masticatory muscle (masseter). The agent then takes effect gradually over the following days. The muscle relaxes and reduces in size without any impact on the patient’s ability to chew.

The effects of Botulinum toxin injections are not permanent and usually last around 4 to 6 months before diminishing. This applies to the use of Botulinum toxin as a treatment for teeth grinding and to narrow the facial contours for aesthetic reasons.

We recommend arranging a refresher treatment as soon as the effects of the Botulinum toxin injections becomes to diminish. Regular refresher treatments help to maintain the results of Botulinum toxin treatment for the long term.

Overall, Botulinum toxin is a very safe substance: it has been extensively tested and used for medical purposes for decades.

When used in the appropriate dosage and administered professionally, any side effects are usually minimal. They can include localised redness, swelling, pain and bruising around the injection sites. Some customers temporarily experience other symptoms such as headaches, a dry mouth or feeling slightly unwell. As a general rule, such issues tend to be very mild and recede within a few days at most.