What is this treatment?
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- Masseter or 'jaw slimming' injections refers to injecting Botulinum toxin into the masseter muscles. These muscles are found on the cheeks and are attached to the jaw bone. They are the muscles you can feel move when you clench your teeth together!
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- In people who clench or grind their teeth, the masseter muscles can increase in size, this is called 'hypertrophic masseters'. Some people also experience pain in their masseters, which is usually described as a dull ache. This can stop people enjoying chewy foods, it can be a problem for those who talk a lot at work, for example teachers, or in frequent meetings. It can really interfere with people's lives.
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How does the treatment help?
- The botulinum treatment stops a proportion of the muscles from moving, significantly reducing tension and the severity of clenching and grinding. This can lead to a significant decrease in pain, the muscles may appear smaller (where the term 'jaw slimming injections comes from) and it can have a huge positive impact on quality of life.
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Will it change the way I look?
The toxin is placed deep into the muscle and so will have no effect on the appearance of the overlying skin. With time as the over-function of the muscles is prevented, the muscles can shrink back to a 'more normal' size and the face can appear slimmer as a result.
Who is this treatment for?
As a dentist working in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, I frequently see and treat patients for Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) during my hospital work. If you are suffering with jaw pain, I will perform an assessment to deduce if your masseters are contributing to your symptoms. From here, I can advise you as to whether botulinum injections would be a suitable treatment in addition to giving you conservative advice on how to improve your symptoms in other ways.