Hi, I'm Dr. Pham of Smiles of Virginia Beach. Today we're going to talk about Botox.
What is Botox?
I offer Botox for patients who grind at night and clench during the day. Botox is a toxin that helps the muscle groups that help your jaw close, essentially weakening them. So that you don’t overgrind or exert too much force on your jaw when those muscles are working.
Who benefits from Botox?
For patient populations where they already have night guards but absolutely hate them, Botox is a perfect solution for those patients. Generally, during an exam, I see patients suffering from wear and tear, particularly flat surfaces on the back teeth, and especially canines that should be pointier. Once you see that those teeth are ground down and flat, that's how you know.
What are signs of bruxism?
If you're experiencing jaw pain, clicking when you open or close your mouth, and fatigue in general, these are signs of bruxism.
Is Botox painful?
Botox does require needles, but they're very small. We do have creams that we apply onto the skin first to minimize the sensation of the needle shots.
Is Botox used for cosmetics?
I do utilize Botox for cosmetics as well. They are perfect modulators to prevent wrinkles. Especially beneficial for preventing wrinkles before they become permanent. It's perfect for the crow lines by your eyes, or lines on your forehead, like those you get when you're surprised, and the "11s" you see when you frown or make a mad face at somebody.
Hi, I'm Dr. Pham from Smiles of Virginia Beach. We're talking about Botox today.
How can Botox help with bruxism?
For people who suffer from bruxism, clenching, or grinding at night, or clenching in the morning, I usually recommend a night guard. But, for some people, a night guard is a big step. They dislike having something in their mouth and don't sleep well with something in their mouth.
Botox offers a solution for that. Essentially, it is a toxin that inactivates these muscles, the two muscle groups that close the jaw. It doesn't mean that the muscles will stop working; it just weakens them so that you don't overbite or clench too hard.
What are the signs of being a jaw clencher?
Usually, clenchers have very worn-out, flat surfaces with no valleys or hills. When people bite down, these muscles can sometimes bulge out, and you can tell, without even looking inside, that someone is a grinder at night.
What are the long-term effects of teeth grinding?
The long-term effect of grinding is not just on the joints that we discussed. You can wear down your teeth and enamel, which is the protective layer of your teeth.