Bruxism is involuntary clenching and grinding of teeth at night and during the day.
Our patients with bruxism generally complain of headaches, earaches, neck pain, and wear on their teeth. Bruxism is a condition that increases the frequency of sleep disorders such as sleep apnea. In our patients who clench their teeth involuntarily, the incidence of dental and gum diseases increases, jaw joint disorders increase, and the jaw joint may deform prematurely. There may be swelling on the cheeks due to the growth of the "masseter muscle" that helps open our jaw.
Increasing difficulties in living conditions push people to be more competitive and aggressive. Increasing stress factors in people and reflecting the state of worry called anxiety may occur in the form of involuntary teeth grinding.
A significant portion of patients with involuntary teeth grinding, especially at night, have a family history of bruxism. Involuntary teeth grinding is more common in diseases such as sleep apnea, reflux, dementia, Parkinson's and night terrors. Smoking, alcohol and caffeine habits and some medications (especially antidepressants) increase the risk of bruxism.
One of the treatment methods used successfully in patients with involuntary teeth grinding is "botox". By applying Botox 3-4 times a year to the "masseter muscle" and "temporal muscle", which help us open and close our jaw, excessive growth in these muscles can be reduced and the jaw clenching force can be normalized.
This process takes approximately 10-15 minutes. continues between. It is performed under polyclinic conditions. The procedure begins after topical anesthesia and ice are applied to the injection area.
The first results of the procedure begin to be seen after a week, and muscle strength returns to normal after approximately 4 months.
Excessive masseter muscle due to involuntary teeth clenching. There is growth and our face shape may become what is called a "square face". A square face creates an older, busier and more irritable facial expression. With repeated botox treatments, the "square face" expression disappears due to the regression of growth in the masseter muscle and our face becomes an "inverted triangle" face appearance. The inverted triangle facial expression makes us look younger and livelier.
At the beginning of the treatment methods other than Botox, the patient's habits should be changed. We would like you to edit it. Such as quitting smoking, reducing alcohol use, limiting caffeine intake, not chewing gum, and not consuming hard foods. It is especially recommended to eat food by cutting it into small pieces by hand or with a knife, without using the front incisors. It is recommended not to consume foods that use the front teeth and make tearing movements, such as sandwiches.
Another treatment is night aligners. The patient goes to bed after placing these plates on his upper and lower teeth before going to bed at night. The force on the jaw during teeth clenching is reduced.
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