Bruxism and treatments (night guard/muscle relaxant injections)

Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) is an umbrella term which describes a broad range of conditions characterised by pain or dysfunction caused by issues with the jaw, jaw joint and related muscles.

Bruxism is a type of TMD and is the involuntary action of grinding or clenching your teeth together. It typically occurs when people are asleep, but can also occur when awake. Grinding of the teeth can cause damage to the teeth itself as well as its supporting bone or jaw joint and muscles. Over a period of time, bruxism can lead to the wearing down of your teeth, causing pain in the jaw joints or loosening of the teeth due to damage to the supporting bone.

However, various preventative measures can be taken to reduce the effects of Bruxism. One of these recommended treatments for Bruxism is getting a wearing night guard while you sleep. Night guards are helpful in these cases as they act to keep your teeth slightly separated while sleeping. This helps to control the distribution of these excessive forces caused by grinding of the teeth. Getting a night guard fitted is a simple process. It begins by having one of our dentists take impressions of your teeth, which are then sent off to highly qualified dental lab technicians to make your custom night guards. At home, your night guard is worn at night while you sleep, preventing you from clenching and grinding your teeth together.

Another treatment option is facial relaxant injections. These medications administered by an injection are sterile, pharmaceutical-grade proteins that target part of the mechanism involved in muscle contraction. The medication is administered to target muscles from outside of the face. This reduces the ability of the muscle to contract with the same strength, reducing tension placed on jaw joint and surrounding tissue and therefore the grinding and clenching of your teeth is also reduced. While the medication is eliminated from your body rapidly, the effects will last from a few weeks to months depending on the circumstances. The dentist will decide the appropriate dosage of this medication, depending on the severity. Facial relaxant injections provide a reversible, temporary and minimally invasive treatment option and can also be used as a diagnostic tool by Dentists when trying to determine the exact nature and origin of your pain.

Hence, if you suffering from severe Bruxism, call and book an appointment with one of our dentists at Relax Dental and Facial Care today to see what treatment is best for you!