How does Botox treat bruxism?
Botox injected into the masseter muscle — the main muscle responsible for clenching the teeth — weakens its contraction strength. The muscle can still work normally during chewing, but it often loses the ability to generate the destructive force involved in involuntary clenching.
Ideal for
This treatment is aimed at people with a confirmed bruxism diagnosis (from a dentist or physiotherapist), and at those whose tense, hypertrophic masseter muscles are clearly visible — showing as a "square" jaw contour when the teeth are clenched.
- Men and women with a confirmed bruxism diagnosis
- People with chronic headaches and neck pain caused by masseter tension
- People with a visibly hypertrophic masseter muscle
- Women and men who want to subtly narrow the lower face (viscontouring)
What does the treatment involve?
- Consultation — assessment of the masseter muscles, palpation with the teeth clenched
- Optional local anaesthesia — numbing cream or cold spray
- A few precise injections into the masseter on each side of the face
- Return to daily activities straight after the treatment
Mild muscle tenderness may appear for 1–2 days after the treatment. The muscle-weakening effect usually becomes visible after 7–14 days, while viscontouring — the gradual reduction in muscle volume — appears for many people after 4–8 weeks.
How long results last
Pain and tension reduction usually lasts several months. The aesthetic effect can last a little longer, as the muscle gradually reduces in volume. After a series of treatments, the effect often lasts longer still, because the hypertrophic muscle partly shrinks for good.
Combining with a brace or splint
Masseter Botox and a relaxation splint from your dentist are complementary approaches to treating bruxism. Botox works from within, weakening the muscle, while the splint protects the teeth from the outside. For many patients, combining both methods brings better results than either one alone.
Viscontouring — for women and men
In women, reducing enlarged masseter muscles can give the face a more oval or heart-shaped appearance. This is a popular solution for those with clearly defined, large masseter muscles.
In men, masseter Botox usually produces a more subtle effect, due to greater muscle mass. The result is often a natural sharpening of the jawline rather than a pronounced narrowing.