What is Masseter Botox?
Bruxism is a health problem that causes severe toothache and problems due to unconscious clenching and grinding of teeth while sleeping or awake. If teeth grinding and clenching become chronic, it can cause earache, headache, migraine and facial pain. Dental problems caused by bruxism include loss of tooth enamel, flattening or crumbling of teeth and tooth sensitivity. Bruxism patients often wake up in the morning with severe jaw pain and their jaw shape evolves towards a square. Masseter botox is used in the treatment of this disease.
In addition, masseter botox is also used in the treatment of masseter hypertrophy, which is defined as the growth of the masseter muscles and becoming prominent enough to be seen from the outside. The most common causes of masseter hypertrophy are chewing gum and eating hard meat. Masseter hypertrophy is also seen in patients with bruxism.
Botulinum botox type a, commonly known as botulinum botox, is effective in relieving jaw and headaches caused by bruxism. Masseter Botox also helps to eliminate other side effects caused by bruxism.
Recent studies have shown that botulinum toxin is effective in preventing overactivity of specific muscles and achieving spasticity in these muscles. Anti-inflammatory drugs and other treatment methods used in the treatment of bruxism are not as effective as masseter botox in treatment. Dental aligners, on the other hand, prevent damage to the teeth, but do not eliminate other problems caused by the disease.
How is Masseter Botox Performed?
A preparatory phase is required before masseter botox is performed. At this stage, the patients’ faces are analyzed and the amount of thickening in the masseter muscles is determined. To determine this, patients should clench their jaws in the biting position. The thickness of the muscle is important in determining the amount of toxin to be used. It is also necessary to determine how many sessions the patients need before the procedure. Patients should take care to consume foods that will not increase their blood sugar and blood pressure before the procedure. In addition, alcohol should not be consumed for 24 hours before the procedure. It is important that patients do not wear make-up on the day of Masseter Botox.
Masseter Botox is used in small doses. Before the application starts, the facial area of the patients is cleaned with medical cleansers. The botulinum toxin is then injected directly into the masseter muscles that allow the jaw to move. It is necessary to check whether the same amount of toxin is applied to both sides of the jaw. Otherwise, an asymmetrical image is formed on the face of the patients. With this injection, the muscles are weakened to such an extent that the jaw cannot be clenched. Although masseter applications prevent tooth damage and pain caused by bruxism, they do not cause any change in the facial expressions of the patients and patients continue to perform voluntary muscle movements as they should.
Patients do not feel any pain during masseter botox applications, which is a 10-minute procedure. Because anesthetic cream is applied to patients before the application. After the procedure, patients can continue their daily lives. It takes approximately 3 to 4 weeks for masseter botox to take full effect.
Why is Masseter Botox Performed?
Although enlargement of the masseter muscle does not cause any functional problems, it can cause discomfort to patients because it causes a change in appearance. In addition, if the growth of the masseter muscles occurs due to bruxism, then patients experience serious dental problems and pain. Masseter Botox is used to eliminate all these effects caused by the growth of the masseter muscles and to restore the oval shape of the face.
Benefits of Masseter Botox
Masseter Botox has many advantages for patients. Foremost among these is that it is a completely reliable treatment method. Thanks to Masseter Botox, patients do not need to undergo any jaw surgery. For this reason, it is a treatment option that has no risk compared to surgical procedures.
It causes changes in the jaw structure after application. Masseter applications allow the chin to get out of its square appearance and return to its oval and thin appearance. The masseter muscles shrink due to the application. In this way, the jaw lines of the patients gain a thinner and more prominent appearance.
The pain experienced due to prolonged contraction of the jaw muscles is relieved and dental health is protected.
Side Effects of Masseter Botox
There are no serious side effects detected in masseter botox application. Although the possibility of an allergic reaction during the application is very low, it is not a 100% safe method. Side effects that can be seen after masseter botox application are as follows.
- Swelling in the jaw
- Redness on the chin,
- Muscle stiffness
- Muscle weakness,
- Fatigue
- Exhaustion
- Pain in the nape of the neck,
- Pain in the head area,
- Blurred vision
