Experiences of masseter Botox for teeth grinding and jaw clenching?

[MaidMiriam]

I've just had my first round of masseter botox to address teeth grinding and jaw clenching. Over the last ten) fifteen years, this has not only damaged my teeth, but also really changed the shape of my face!

If you've had this treatment, I'd be really grateful if you could share your experiences. How long did it take to make a noticable difference? Do you have to keep getting it done, or were you able to break the habit after a few rounds?

It's expensive and I won't be able to afford it forever, but on the other hand it might well work out cheaper than extensive dental treatment!

I have had this done - after needing TMJ operations to try and fix the joint damage. It worked very well (and made my face much less round in a couple of months). Mine has been done on the NHS and I had last/4th treatment last week. I am aware that as I approach the next appointment that my grinding is building up again though. Have you got a bite guard?

I have mine done every 6 months and have done for about 5 years. It’s a life changer. The first one probably took just under 2 weeks to kick in properly and then subsequent ones have been less.

I have mine done on the NHS at the maxillofacial department of the the hospital. My dentist referred me and it’s never cost me anything. I know other NHS trusts don’t offer this so it may be worth asking?

Ooh, I had no idea that this could be done through the NHS. Good to hear your experiences - thank you both.

I have had a bite guard in the past - a custom one - but I found it so unpleasant, I stopped using it.

I think this is what I now need in order to get any relief.

Does it hurt to get? My main issue with botox is that im an awful wuss and the idea of the needle hurting terrifies me. Blood test needle im grand, need at the dentist in the gums im a wreck and i worry the botox is a bit like the second!

No, I don’t think it’s quite as sharp as needle in the gum! Mine gets put one in each temple and then two in the jaw! It’s really not bad at all!

I’m on the waiting list for this. Been on the waiting list for about six months now.

No it doesn't hurt. Everyone told me it would so I was rather nervous the first time but it didn't (only masseter for me though). For me (NHS/UCLH; who have been fab) the 4th is the last, so time will tell :-)

ps wear your mouth guard!

I had this and it was OK. It slimmed down my face! But I couldn't keep up with the expense. Got a new mouthguard from Amazon - just q cheap one you mould yourself and it's actually better than the one my dentist made (for £100!) Because it's thicker and stops my back teeth meeting at all.

I really should, shouldn't I? I just hate the way that wearing it seems to make my mouth produce so much saliva! 🤮

Am booked in to have this done in May

It is life changing. I have paid privately for mine yearly for the last 8 years, and it's expensive but gets rid of my pain (shooting pain in left ear due to jaw). 🙌
I honestly didnt know you could get it on the NHS. I have literally asked the GP last week, to refer me to maxillo-facial dept.
So glad I saw this thread 💕
@MaidMiriam

I'm interested to hear that people have been able to have this procedure on the NHS. I'm in Canada but returning to the UK soon. I have jaw clenching, which causes headaches and migraines, but I don't grind my teeth (as far as I can tell and my dentist hasn't said teeth grinding is a problem). The jaw clenching is likely stress related. I had botox in the masseter muscle a year ago and it worked really well - I didn't have a migraine for 6 months. It was incredibly expensive so I didn't get it done again for a while but just caved a couple of weeks ago because the headaches, migraines and jaw pain are too much. This time I got the massetter muscle botox plus the temples (the first time with just the massetter muscle and even though it worked for the headaches I could still feel my upper jaw/temple area clenching even though the lower jaw wasn't anymore).

Botox for jaw clenching wasn't available in the public health system where I live in Canada, and it also wasn't covered by my employer health care plan so I paid out of pocket. For those who had an NHS referral to a maxillo-facial dept was it for teeth grinding specifically? Has anyone had it for jaw clenching without grinding, but with other side effects like headaches?

I don't really know what damage the jaw clenching is causing to my jaw itself, although my jaw is painful and tight, especially in the morning, but because the procedure isn't available through the health system and isn't covered my work health plan my dentist told me it was a waste of money because it's so expensive and I should be trying to address the stress that causes it! The stress won't just go away so that wasn't very helpful and I ended up getting it anyway. It was definitely worth the expense.

How does it change your face shape?

I have been grinding my teeth for years and I'm interested to know if that has happened to me, did some one mention it makes it rounder?

I looked like a hamster due to massive masseters, so as they have reduced, my face has become slimmer. For me, it took years of dentists before I got an orthodontist to refer me, but by then MRIs showed the deterioration of my TMJs (can't open mouth very wide, can't bite hard things, externally audible crunching noise while chewing) so I needed surgery first.

I’ve had it privately and just waiting for it on the NHS- completely life changing, I recommend it to everyone!

I am a chronic teeth grinder and have a very round face and would love to try this. Those that got a referral was it through the dentist or GP? As I have been passed back and forth and not sure who to push to try get maxiofacial referral.
Those saying it’s very expensive…how much is it exactly?
I also have a mouth guard but have never once managed to sleep with it in!!

@Horispondle I just paid £400 for mine 😱 🫣

I've had it done several times although not in UK and so paid privately. The first time was great and it lasted months and months. This time it seems to have worn off a lot quicker, which is annoying.

The injections themselves aren't painless but it's a small pinch and over in a second so not something to worry about.