bruxism/

jaw clenching

In the past few years, we have seen a rise in the number of cases of Bruxism-
a condition in which patients unconsciously clench their teeth during the day or clench and/or grind them while asleep. The result is an enlarged/ uneven jaw, and in some cases damages teeth.

In some patients bruxism can be frequent and severe enough to lead to jaw disorders, tension headaches, facial pain, damaged teeth and many other problems.

There are many causes of bruxism however the most common are: anxiety, stress, tension, frustration, hyperactive personality type, and other sleep problems such as

sleep apnea.

how do we treat bruxism?

Dr. Vafa injects Botox/toxin into the area of concern to help relax the jaw muscles and prevents excessive clenching/ Bruxism

in the future.

Dr. Vafa is considered a leading expert and one of the first to treat Masseter Muscle Hypertrophy and Bruxism with OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) injections in New York. He has performed thousands of procedures and has been involved in several studies regarding the treatment of bruxism with neuromodulators such as Botox. He is also an educator who has taught the nuances of the procedure and injection technique to other doctors in the field.

who is a good candidate?

Dr. Vafa will be able to best assess your candidacy during a complimentary consultation. However generally any person who has an excessively wide jaw line due to large chewing muscles (who would like to slim his/her face), and any person who suffers from Bruxism, is a candidate for this procedure.
how does it work?

When Botox is injected into the muscle it partially relaxes it. Underused muscle eventually loses its mass and reduces its overall size. The reduction in size will also cause a reduction in the ability to clench and grind in patients who suffer with Bruxism.
downtime

As with any procedure involving needles, there is a small chance of mild bruising or mild transient redness at the area of injection.
results

At the end of the first week, you may notice that your jaw muscles feel softer. In about 6 weeks you will notice a reduction in your jaw line that will last typically between 6 months to a year and a half depending on the underlying cause of the muscle enlargement.
cost

starting at $545