Botox for teeth grinding and TMJ Botox: how are they different from square jaw Botox?

If you are looking into Botox for teeth grinding because your jaw feels stiff when you wake up or you have been told you grind your teeth, it is worth first checking whether that discomfort comes from muscle or the joint. Botox for teeth grinding, TMJ Botox, and square jaw Botox all work on the same principle: botulinum toxin is injected into the masseter, the chewing muscle, to reduce the contraction signals sent to the muscle for a certain period.

The names differ because their purpose and injection range differ. Square jaw Botox looks at the volume of the muscle that makes the lower face look wide, while Botox for teeth grinding and TMJ Botox look at the force of grinding or clenching and the stiffness it causes. What is listed in our Suwon clinic's treatment guide is square jaw Botox for the facial line, and if teeth grinding or jaw joint discomfort is the main reason, we first check the condition of the muscle and joint at the examination.

In this article, we go through why the three types of Botox work on the same principle, how to tell muscle from joint problems, how injection points and amounts are decided, recovery and care, side effects, and what to check before the procedure.

Key points of Botox for teeth grinding

• Botox for teeth grinding, TMJ, and square jaw all work on the same principle of lowering the strength of the masseter for a certain period.
• Square jaw Botox mainly looks at muscle volume, while Botox for teeth grinding and TMJ Botox mainly look at muscle tension and stiffness.
• If your jaw makes a sound when you open your mouth or does not open well, a joint problem is checked first.
• Botox does not eliminate the habit that makes you grind your teeth, so as the effect wears off, the muscle's strength returns.

How does Botox for teeth grinding work?

Botulinum toxin blocks the release of acetylcholine, the substance that carries the command to contract from nerve endings to muscles. Muscles that do not receive the signal lose strength, and as the period of reduced use continues, their volume gradually decreases as well.

The masseter is a muscle that runs from in front of the ear to the corner of the lower jaw, and it bulges firmly at the side of the jaw when you clench your teeth. If you often chew hard foods, or have a habit of grinding your teeth during sleep and clenching during the day, this muscle keeps working and becomes thicker, and stiffness may remain every morning.

Square jaw Botox focuses on reducing the volume of a thickened masseter. Botox for teeth grinding and TMJ Botox aim to lower the strength of the same masseter to ease muscle tension and stiffness, and in dentistry, an approach that also injects the temporalis muscle near the temples is described. The search term dental Botox refers to this approach.

Does jaw discomfort come from the muscle or the joint?

Even with the same jaw discomfort, the care you should seek first differs depending on the cause.

For temporomandibular joint disorders, it is known that an occlusal device (splint), physical therapy, and medication are tried first, and Botox may be used alongside them when muscle tension is significant. Botox does not change the shape of the bone, and changes inside the joint also need separate care.

How are the injection points and amount for masseter Botox decided?

How we determine the injection points

Masseter Botox is injected at several points in the lower part, where the muscle is thickest. If the injection goes past the front border of the muscle, the toxin may spread to the muscle that pulls the corners of the mouth when you smile, and the upper area is where the salivary gland and its duct pass, so we avoid these areas at the design stage.

The dose and position are decided by looking at the thickness and extent of the muscle when you clench, the size difference between the left and right muscles, and whether the desired change is in the facial line or relief from stiffness. If the left and right muscles differ in size, we do not inject the same amount on both sides but divide it according to the difference.

Square jaw Botox treatment guide

Square jaw Botox in our Suwon clinic's treatment guide proceeds in the order of personalized consultation, design, disinfection, and the procedure, takes about 10 minutes, and you can return to daily life right after. Muscle volume begins to decrease gradually from 2 weeks after the procedure, the facial line is checked at around 1 to 2 months, and because the muscle returns to its original size over 6 to 8 months, retreatment at intervals of 4 to 5 months is the standard. It comes in a 50-unit option, and you choose from Korean-made, Korean-made low-resistance, and German-made low-resistance products.

View masseter Botox treatment information

Recovery and care after TMJ Botox

• You may wash your face and wear makeup starting 2 to 3 hours after the procedure.
• For 3 to 7 days after treatment, avoid heavy drinking, smoking, saunas and Korean bathhouses, hot baths, and strenuous exercise.
• Do not rub the treated area hard, and avoid strong massages or meridian massage for one month.
• Avoid very tough or hard foods as much as possible, as they can shorten how long the effect lasts and cause pain.

Your jaw may feel stiff after the procedure, but this is temporary. If you received it because of teeth grinding, the habit of grinding during sleep remains as it is, so if your teeth are significantly worn, it is a good idea to discuss using a dental mouthguard as well.

Side effects and precautions for masseter Botox

After the procedure, mild bruising and swelling at the injection site and jaw stiffness may occur, and most are mild and ease soon. For a while, you may feel that you tire more quickly than usual when chewing tough food, and results and reactions vary from person to person.

Rarely, the corners of the mouth may look uneven from side to side when you smile, or only part of the muscle may shrink so that it looks like it bulges when you chew. As muscle volume decreases, the area below the cheeks may look hollow, so for those whose lower face is already narrow or who have little fat, the amount is set conservatively. Repeating large amounts at short intervals can cause antibodies to form and reduce the response to the same product. Please let us know before the procedure if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a condition related to muscles or nerves, or are taking any medication.

If swallowing or speaking becomes uncomfortable or you feel short of breath, please contact the clinic right away. An examination is also needed if the injection site becomes increasingly red and hot.

What should be checked before Botox for teeth grinding?

In cases like these, first check the condition of the muscle and joint

• My jaw feels stiff or my temples hurt every morning.
• I have been told I grind my teeth during sleep, and the tips of my teeth are worn.
• When I open my mouth, there is a sound in front of my ear, or my mouth does not open well.
• When I clench my teeth, the sides of my jaw bulge firmly.

If two or more apply, it is best to check whether the discomfort comes from the muscle or the joint before looking into Botox for teeth grinding. Whether to have the procedure, the method, and the range are decided together in consultation after the medical team examines you.

In short, the key to Botox for teeth grinding and TMJ Botox is first distinguishing between muscle and joint problems and planning together with habit management.

FAQ

Q. Will teeth grinding Botox stop my teeth grinding?

A. It works by lowering the muscle's strength for a certain period to reduce grinding force and jaw stiffness. The habits and stress that cause grinding remain, so the strength returns as the effect wears off, and if your teeth are significantly worn, it is a good idea to also discuss a dental mouthguard.

Q. Can TMJ Botox also improve the sounds my jaw makes?

A. Sounds when opening the mouth and limited mouth opening can come from changes inside the joint, so an examination by a dentist or oral medicine specialist comes first. When there is also pain caused by muscle tension, TMJ Botox is known as one of the methods that can be used alongside other treatment.

Q. Are masseter Botox and square jaw Botox different procedures?

A. Both names refer to the same procedure of injecting botulinum toxin into the masseter. The injection range and amount differ depending on whether the goal is the facial line or easing muscle tension, so before the procedure we first talk through what is bothering you.

Q. How is masseteric nerve block different from Botox for teeth grinding?

A. Masseteric nerve block is known as a method that blocks the nerve branch to the muscle itself, while Botox is a method in which the drug blocks nerve signals for a certain period and then wears off over time. They work in different ways, and what is listed in our Suwon clinic's treatment guide is botulinum toxin injection.

Q. Is it okay to get Botox for teeth grinding often?

A. Repeating large amounts at short intervals can cause the body to form antibodies and reduce the response to the same product. The interval is set considering that the masseter returns to its original size over 6 to 8 months, and if you have a history of repeated treatment, we also discuss low-resistance products.

Q. How can I check the cost of Botox for teeth grinding?

A. The cost depends on the injection range, the type of product, and the dose. We explain the range and product needed after examining the condition of the muscle and joint, and you can also see the options and items for square jaw Botox on the treatment guide page.