Bruxism
Bruxism is teeth grinding or clenching and is a common facial-jaw dysfunction that occurs in one in three people. It involves rhythmic contraction of the jaw muscles, causing teeth grinding. Most people who grind their teeth are unaware of it and do so mainly at night while sleeping. In such cases, the partner plays an important role in quickly detecting the problem.
Bruxism poses a major threat to stable oral health. Teeth are in contact for a maximum of 20 minutes during the day when chewing and swallowing food, while during nighttime grinding they are in contact for much longer, and with ten times more force than when chewing food. This causes considerable damage, which most people are completely unaware of. Teeth grinding accelerates the wear of hard dental tissue; in layman’s terms, such people are wearing down their teeth, and the lack of enamel also makes the teeth more sensitive.
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WHAT CAUSES IT AND WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES?
Experts studying bruxism are still unable to pinpoint the exact cause. The causes can be both physiological and psychological. It can occur suddenly and disappear just as quickly. One of the main causes is certainly an uneven bite, which also occurs in people who are nervous and tense; sometimes the stress of work, exams, events, etc. is enough.
Another possible cause is an overly high filling or prosthetic replacement. Bruxism also occurs as a side effect of certain medications used to treat depression. In such cases, talk to your doctor about whether it is possible to change medications. Teeth grinding also occurs in people who have sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and snoring.
Teeth grinding generates enormous forces, which cause the chewing muscles in such people to become extremely strong. This puts strain on the entire system of muscles and joints, which are not designed for such loads. Teeth grinding can result in broken teeth, fillings, or crowns. Excessive use of the chewing muscles also leads to local inflammatory muscle damage, which causes pain. This manifests itself as headaches, neck pain, or toothache. Bruxism also leads to changes in the jaw joint, which causes pain around the ears and painful mouth opening.
What happens while we sleep?
During REM sleep (one of the four stages of sleep), the chewing muscles are activated and the teeth come into contact with each other.
During REM sleep (one of the four stages of sleep), the chewing muscles are activated, causing the teeth to come into contact. This contact is unusual because we do not have food in our mouths. We grind our teeth with horizontal movements of the lower jaw. Under strong pressure, they bend, break, crack, and crumble. Forces are created that are up to ten times greater than those we use for chewing during the day. An episode of grinding lasts anywhere from five to ten minutes and then subsides with the transition to the next phase of sleep. Sleep occurs in waves, which means that the REM phase repeats several times a night, and with it, bruxism. In layman’s terms, the jaw is in the gym at night, causing people to wake up tired and in pain.
How many people face these problems?
Bruxism occurs in many people, but most do not notice it. The problem is usually evenly distributed among men and women, and in children who are bruxists, the condition usually subsides as all their teeth grow in. Some studies even show that around 80% of people grind their teeth at some point in their lives without experiencing any major problems. Data from the US shows that the prevalence of bruxism is around 5–10% in adults and 10% in children.
WHAT IS THE TREATMENT AND WHAT CAN WE DO OURSELVES?
Treatment is successful if we remove the cause of bruxism. When the cause is clear, such as a high filling, treatment is simple, but the cause may also be stress, which is difficult to control. When the signs or causes are not entirely clear, treatment is palliative, which means that it is aimed at alleviating and eliminating symptoms. Various muscle relaxants and sedatives are used, and exercises for the joints and muscles are prescribed.
A mouth guard is also often used, which the bruxer wears at night. The dentist determines which type of mouth guard is appropriate and then makes it. The problem arises because many people cannot wear a mouth guard as it bothers them, prevents them from sleeping, and so on. An alternative treatment is the use of Botox. Injecting Botox into the chewing muscle weakens its function and excessive contraction. This can partially alleviate the condition, and in some cases, bruxism even disappears. In addition to its therapeutic effect, Botox also has an aesthetic effect. Its use reduces the prominence of the jaw and changes the shape of the face from square to oval. The application of Botox for bruxism is primarily functional, and it is important to have the procedure performed by a specialist who has experience with teeth and periodontal tissues and is familiar with facial structures.
WHAT CAN WE DO OURSELVES TO PREVENT BRUXISM?
Experts recommend relaxation techniques (visiting a psychotherapist if necessary) and avoiding stress, alcohol, and drugs. They also recommend the use of muscle relaxants (Botox, etc.), electrostimulation, wearing an occlusal splint, etc.
What is the treatment and what can we do ourselves? Treatment is successful if we remove the cause of bruxism. When the cause is clear, such as a high filling, treatment is simple, but the cause may also be stress, which is difficult to control. When the signs or causes are not entirely clear, treatment is palliative, which means that it is aimed at alleviating and eliminating symptoms. Various muscle relaxants and sedatives are used, and exercises for the joints and muscles are prescribed.
A mouth guard is also often used, which the bruxer wears at night. The dentist determines which type of mouth guard is appropriate and then makes it. The problem arises because many people cannot wear a mouth guard as it bothers them, prevents them from sleeping, and so on. An alternative treatment is the use of Botox. Injecting Botox into the chewing muscle weakens its function and excessive contraction. This can partially alleviate the condition, and in some cases, bruxism even disappears. In addition to its therapeutic effect, Botox also has an aesthetic effect. Its use reduces the prominence of the jaw and changes the shape of the face from square to oval. The application of Botox for bruxism is primarily functional, and it is important to have the procedure performed by a specialist who has experience with teeth and periodontal tissues and is familiar with facial structures.
And what can we do ourselves to prevent bruxism? Experts recommend relaxation methods (visiting a psychotherapist if necessary) and avoiding stress, alcohol, and drugs.
More information and details about individual therapies can be found in the Medical Aesthetics menu. They also recommend the use of muscle relaxants (Botox, etc.), electrostimulation, wearing an occlusal splint, etc.
HOW IS THE BOTOX PROCEDURE PERFORMED?
Before the procedure, discuss with the specialist where it will be injected. It is important that Botox is injected once and then added as needed after 2-3 weeks. After the procedure, your body should not receive Botox again for at least 4 months. Women usually receive between 40 and 70 units, while men receive an average of 70 units of Botox. The application is performed with a thin needle and is almost painless. However, we can say that the procedure is a little uncomfortable. The procedure is followed by a check-up after about 3 weeks, when the doctor decides whether to add more Botox. After about six months, the procedure can be repeated if the patient feels that they are clenching their teeth again.
Once the Botox takes full effect, you will not feel anything special, but you will wake up in the morning feeling more relaxed and rested. If the muscle can no longer clench as strongly due to the application of Botox, the brain will eventually forget how to clench. So, we can say that this is a long-term investment. When using a mouth guard, the brain does not forget how to clench and we do not get the same end result. The price of Botox application depends on the type of bruxism and ranges from EUR 250 to EUR 300. In any case, we must consider Botox injections to be a long-term investment that will prevent further damage to our oral cavity.
PRICE LIST
EXAMINATION AND CONSULTATION
| Consultation | 30 to 50 € |
| Consultation – during treatment | 0 € |
BOTOX – application of Vistabel botulinum toxin to reduce the strength of the chewing muscle (bruxism)
| mild form of bruxism | from 240 € |
| moderate form of bruxism | from 280 € |
| severe form of bruxism | from 300 € |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
CAN BRUXISM BE PERMANENTLY ELIMINATED?
Bruxism is a problem that affects a large number of people. It is important to know that there are options for treating this problem, but they vary. Your chosen doctor will assess which solution is most suitable for you, but the chances of eliminating or significantly reducing the problem are very good.
HOW CAN BOTOX OVERCOME BRUXISM?
A specialist will inject Botox, which will weaken the function of your chewing muscle and its excessive contraction. This will reduce or completely stop bruxism. During this time, your brain will forget this activity and later, even when the effect of Botox wears off, the problem will most likely disappear. For more information, we suggest you contact us.