Bruxism is a fairly common disease that, unfortunately, begins to be treated when its effects are already visible to the naked eye. In addition to physiological problems, there are also negative aesthetic consequences. There are various treatment methods, but the most effective is still the use of Botox for bruxism.
How to understand that you have it?
It is quite difficult to diagnose this disease at first. At an early stage, when the tooth enamel has not yet been significantly damaged, the patient can only realize that something is wrong if the following symptoms are present.
- Usually, the teeth grinding is complained about by the family of the patient.
- After waking up, a person feels excessive tone of the chewing muscles and pain in them.
- There may be unconscious clenching of teeth during the day, especially when a person is worried about something.
If you have these symptoms, do not delay your visit to the doctor, because bruxism has quite serious health consequences.
Why is it necessary to treat bruxism?
Excessive tension of the chewing muscles negatively affects the condition of the teeth. At the same time, the need for prosthetics may appear at the age of 30–35 years. Usually, a patient begins to treat bruxism after a visit to the dentist.
With excessive tension of the chewing muscles, the face often becomes wider. Due to involuntary, often nighttime teeth grinding, the enamel is abraded, even damaging fillings and crowns. Periodontal problems also appear. The patient suffers from headaches and muscle pains.
Even though the most significant negative consequences of bruxism are manifested in dental health, this is not a dental problem. Your doctor should refer you to another specialist who will offer several methods of bruxism treatment. So far, Botox is the most effective.
How is it performed?
Treatment of bruxism with a Botox injection requires great precision in both dosage and target areas. The procedure takes several minutes. Injections are made directly into the muscles. The effect of a Botox injection appears after a while. So, if you don’t feel any relief in the first few minutes after the procedure, don’t worry. The drug starts to work gradually. The full effect develops within two weeks.
The procedure is painless. Patients are usually offered local anesthesia. After the injection, you can immediately return to your normal life. However, it is not advisable to visit a sauna or solarium for the next few weeks.
At the same time, you should understand that the chewing muscles are not excluded from work. Botox just limits their functionality. So, this drug does not eliminate the symptoms of the disease but treats it. However, the use of Botox against bruxism has one significant drawback. The effect of the procedure lasts for several months. Then it must be repeated. In general, the treatment of bruxism in this way takes about 2–3 years, with the need to periodically make injections. At the same time, it is advisable to visit a psychologist.
Treatment of bruxism with Botox is becoming increasingly popular. The reason is the high efficiency of this method and its availability. However, you need to keep in mind that this is not a procedure that can be performed on your own in a semi-cottage industry. When opting for this method of treatment, it is important to choose a highly experienced specialist who will do everything quickly and efficiently.