Masseter Botox

Who is it for?

We mostly consider it for patients who come with:

• Pain and tiredness in the jaw, cheeks or temples on waking
• Clenching with muscle pain that continues despite a night guard
• Clenching during the day without noticing, and jaw pain that gets worse with stress
• Tooth wear from clenching, and fillings or crowns that keep breaking

If the jaw joint clicks, locks or limits how wide you can open, we examine the joint separately first. Not all jaw pain comes from the muscle; teeth, sinuses and the joint can cause pain in the same area.

Not a solution on its own

Botox reduces the strength of the muscle but does not remove the cause of clenching. Stress, sleep patterns and some medicines can trigger it. That is why in most patients we plan it together with a night guard: the guard protects the teeth from wear, the injection reduces muscle pain.

How is it done?

We start with an examination: we check the muscle by hand, look at tooth wear and take an X-ray if needed. The injection is given with a very fine needle at a few points in the muscle on each side. It takes a few minutes, needs no anaesthetic, and you can go back to your day afterwards.

For a few hours afterwards, do not massage the area or lie face down, and avoid strenuous exercise that day.

When does it start working and how long does it last?

The effect starts within a few days and is fully settled at around two weeks. In most patients it lasts three to six months. When the symptoms return the injection can be repeated. In some patients the effect lasts longer after repeated treatments.

Does it change the shape of the face?

The masseter becomes somewhat smaller as it works less. In people with a strong muscle, the fullness at the angle of the jaw decreases and the lower face may look slightly slimmer. This change happens gradually over a few weeks.

Side effects and who should not have it

The most common side effect is brief tiredness when chewing hard food in the first weeks. There may be mild bruising at the injection site. Rarely, the smile may look temporarily uneven; this settles as the effect wears off.

We do not give it during pregnancy or breastfeeding, in neuromuscular conditions such as myasthenia gravis, if there is an infection at the injection site, or while taking certain antibiotics. Please tell us about the medicines you take at the examination.

Highlights of This Service

• Muscle pain from clenching (bruxism)
• A few minutes, done with a fine needle
• Effect lasts a few months
• Considered together with a night guard