Aesthetics & Beauty Treatments Clinic In Moseley, Birmingham 

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A wide jaw is one that appears large and out of proportion with the rest of the face.Many people are frustrated by a wide jawline and overactive masseter muscle due to grinding of the teeth/bruxism and other factors. Facial slimming (also known as masseter reduction or jawline reduction), refers to the optical narrowing of the face by injecting muscle relaxant into the masseter (masticatory muscle).

Bruxism is the medical term for unconscious teeth grinding and jaw clenching, which can occur either while awake or asleep. Many men and woman clench or grind their teeth for years, without being aware of it. It often happens while they are asleep, or while concentrating or under stress.

Bruxism does not always cause symptoms, but it can wear down your teeth over time and lead to more severe and painful physical problems.

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WHAT CAUSES BRUXISM (TEETH GRINDING)?

The cause of teeth grinding is not always clear, but it is usually linked to a combination of physical and psychological factors, including stress, anxiety or sleep problems. Tobacco, caffeine, alcohol, certain medications and recreational drugs may also increase the risk of bruxism.

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The MAIN SYMPTOMS OF BRUXISM

Because you may have bruxism while you sleep and be unaware of your teeth grinding, it is important to know the signs and symptoms of bruxism before complications develop.

Signs and symptoms of bruxism may include:

• Headaches

• Earaches

• Damaged teeth and enamel

• Square jawline

• Swollen face

• Neck pain

• Interrupted sleep

If you suspect you may be grinding your teeth, request a consultation asap. Severe bruxism can not only damage teeth and result in tooth loss, but it can also affect your jaws and even change the appearance of your face.

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BENEFITS OF GETTING A BOTOX INJECTION IN THE MASSETER MUSCLE 

Apart from the obvious benefits of decreasing pain from teeth grinding and jaw clenching, it can: 

• Relieve jaw tension 

• Balance the face 

• Slim the appearance of a wide jaw 

• Eliminate headaches that originate from the jaw area 

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TREATMENT OF WIDE JAW/ BRUXISM (TEETH GRINDING) WITH NEUROTOXINS

Conventional treatments can help bruxism sufferers successfully protect their teeth from damage at night, however, they do not address the source of the problem.

Recently, a new procedure with an injectable neurotoxin called Botulinum Toxin Type A, has proven to be an innovative treatment option for targeting and treating excessive muscle activity and spasticity.

People with severe bruxism, who do not respond to other treatments, can get tremendous relief from jaw soreness, headaches, and other unpleasant problems associated with bruxism from treatments with Botulinum Toxin Type A.

Moreover, a common by-product of bruxism is often a wide and severe square jawline, due to hypertrophic growth of the masseter muscle (the large muscle that moves the jaw).

Botulinum toxin can soften the appearance of the jaw line, leading to dramatic changes in face shape after regular treatment.

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HOW DOES THE PROCEDURE WORK

Injecting small doses of botulinum toxin directly into the masseter muscle helps the muscles relax and reduces the wear and tear on the teeth due to grinding, hence improving the pain associated with bruxism. Voluntary movements, such as chewing and facial expressions, are not affected by the procedure.

Masseter hypertrophy (with and without bruxism) is treated similarly with botulinum toxin to sculpt the lower face, and most patients report thinning of the face and jaw as a result of treatment with botulinum toxin.

Botulinum toxin is a safe, effective, treatment with little downtime or side effects for treating both the neurogenic and muscular components of bruxism. Results typically lasts for three to four months.

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