What we treat / Jaw clenching and grinding
Jaw Clenching and Grinding
The muscle that closes your jaw sits at the back corner of the face and is one of the strongest in the body for its size. Clenching and grinding, usually at night, work it the way any exercise would, and it thickens. That produces three things at once: morning jaw ache and headaches, wear on the teeth, and a lower face that has gradually squared off. Relaxing that muscle with a neuromodulator reduces the force it can generate, which addresses all three.
Why it happens
Most clenching happens during sleep, so the first sign is usually waking with a tight or aching jaw, or a dull headache at the temples. Many people have no idea they are doing it until a dentist points at the wear on their teeth.
Because the muscle responds to use like any other, years of nightly clenching thicken it. That is what widens the lower face and softens the angle of the jaw, and it is why some people notice the shape change before they connect it to the grinding.
How Dr. Mauer treats it
What to expect
- Appointment
- 15 to 30 minutes
- Discomfort
- Most people describe a mild pinch
- Downtime
- None that stops you going back to work
- Visible
- Symptoms ease over 1 to 2 weeks
- Shape change
- Gradual, over repeated treatments
- Lasts
- Often longer here than in the face, commonly 4 to 6 months
Questions about jaw clenching and grinding
Will I still be able to chew?+
Yes. The muscle is asked to generate less force, not to stop working. Normal eating is unaffected. Some people notice that very hard or chewy food takes more effort for the first couple of weeks.
Is this a treatment for the symptoms or for the shape?+
Both, and which one matters to you changes the plan. People who come for headaches and people who come for a narrower jaw get the same injection in different amounts and on a different schedule, so say which one you are actually there for.
Do I still need my night guard?+
That is a question for your dentist, and the two are not alternatives. A guard protects the teeth from contact. This reduces the force behind it. Many people do better with both.
Why does it last longer than Botox in my forehead?+
It is a much larger and stronger muscle, so the dose is bigger and the effect takes longer to wear off. Four to six months is common.
