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Approximately 13% of American adults grind their teeth at night. Bruxism, the clenching or grinding of the teeth, can lead to headaches, sleep loss, and severe oral conditions in the future. Juliet Ebrahimian, DDS, and the team at Silverlake Smiles in the Silver Lake area of Los Angeles and South Pasadena, California, provide treatments like Botox® to alleviate symptoms of bruxism. Serving the Silver Lake neighborhood and the surrounding areas of Los Feliz, Atwater Village, Frogtown, and Echo Park, the practice treats patients of all ages. To book an appointment, reach out online or call the practice today.
What is bruxism?
Bruxism is a condition where you grind, clench, or gnash your teeth while awake or asleep. This condition can affect you at any age and cause orofacial pain around your face, mouth, jaw, head, and neck.
Bruxism can often lead to temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) affecting your temporomandibular joints (TMJ). This can cause limited movement, inflammation, and spasms in your jaw joints and muscles.
What are the symptoms of bruxism?
You may be suffering from bruxism if you experience symptoms including:
- Face and jaw pain or tension
- Headaches
- Earaches
- Pain when chewing
- Chipped or cracked teeth
- Jaw immobility
- Teeth sensitivity or tightness
- Teeth grinding or clenching while sleeping
Although the exact cause of bruxism isn’t known, your provider may attribute your condition to a misaligned jaw, stress, or genetic factors.
What are my bruxism treatment options?
Before developing a treatment plan, your provider reviews your medical history and uses a CT scanner to create a detailed image of your teeth, jaws, and face. They may recommend a customized mouthguard to wear during the day or overnight.
If your bruxism is severe and you can’t chew properly, your provider may encourage tooth reshaping or a dental crown to repair any tooth decay or loss.
Botox® is a popular treatment for anti-aging, but it can also improve symptoms of bruxism. Botox is a neuromodulator injection that blocks or modifies a nerve impulse. It relaxes your facial and jaw muscles, relieving jaw pain, tension, and headaches. Botox doesn’t affect your talking, chewing, or eating capabilities.
If you’re a good candidate for Botox, your provider performs the procedure at the Silverlake Smiles office. They numb the injection site, then may inject Botox into your jaw muscles, forehead, or temple.
You can expect a small prick when your provider injects the Botox, but overall, the procedure is painless and lasts 10-30 minutes. Afterward, you can use an ice pack to help with any bruising or soreness and return to your daily routine.
You can see results in a few days, and your provider may recommend at least three sessions to see optimal results. Botox is not a cure for bruxism and lasts 3-6 months.
To schedule a consultation, call Silverlake Smiles today or use the convenient online scheduling tool.