Bruxism and hypertonicity of the masticatory muscles

Botulinum toxin type A preparations are better known in our country as Botox and are firmly associated with getting rid of early wrinkles. But there are a number of inaccuracies here. Firstly, Botox is not a group of drugs or an active substance, but a trade name for a very specific drug, which, nevertheless, has become a household name, that is, it is used to refer to all similar drugs in general. And secondly, the range of tasks for such tools is much wider!

What are the advantages of botulinum therapy with Botulax in the treatment of bruxism?

Myorelaxation Complete relaxation of tight masticatory muscles and elimination of painful spasm.
Long-lasting effect After one procedure, the relaxing effect lasts for several months.
Quick relief from pain The drug begins to act immediately and gently relieves stress and discomfort.
Point effect The medicine is administered to strictly defined points and does not affect the functioning of other facial structures.
Getting rid of a bad habit You will quietly get out of the habit of clenching your jaw and aggravating the consequences of bruxism.
Maximum safety The drug does not cause addiction and is completely eliminated from the body.

There is a solution for each case!

1 procedure

1 Botulax procedure Gentle and safe effect For mild cases of hypertonicity of the masticatory muscles RUB 15,000. 15,000 rub.
3 procedures

A course of 3 Botulax procedures Gentle and safe effects For moderate and severe stages of hypertonicity RUB 35,000. 35,000 rub.

Botulinum therapy can help if you have a habit of clenching your jaw tightly and grinding your teeth, you suffer from increased abrasion of enamel and destruction of crowns.

Symptoms of hypertonicity of the masticatory muscles and bruxism

the chewing surfaces of the teeth become worn and flat (the cutting edges disappear),
tooth enamel chips, wedge-shaped defects appear, fillings fly out, teeth quickly decay, become loose, gums hurt,
you experience discomfort when opening your mouth, while eating or yawning - there are clicks, crunching sounds,
you or your loved ones notice that you are grinding your teeth - the characteristic grinding appears mainly at night (the so-called “night bruxism”), when it is difficult for a person to control himself during sleep,
cramps the jaw - you cannot fully open or close your mouth, the jaw seems to be blocked,
it is difficult for you to keep your mouth open for a long time, overexertion and pain appear during bruxism,
when talking or chewing, you feel that your facial muscles are “clogged”, tired,
when you are angry, tense or just working in concentration - your mouth is tightly closed, your lips are pursed, your teeth are closed, you are literally clenching your jaw,
there are problems with your bite – your teeth don’t fit together correctly, your jaws are misaligned relative to each other, causing you to bite your cheeks or tongue,
after concentrated work or under stress, you often have a pressing sensation in your temples, pain and dizziness,
you notice ringing and noise in your ears,
Over time, the lower half of your face has become visually square, heavy,
there are problems with posture - you are slouched, your lower back hurts, your neck is stiff, one shoulder is higher than the other.

If you find one or more signs in yourself, then this is a reason to consult a specialist for medical help. And the first step is a comprehensive diagnosis and search for the causes of hypertension.

We approach the treatment of bruxism comprehensively! We carry out in-depth diagnostics, find the exact cause of facial muscle spasm and eliminate it using advanced methods - safely and with high results.

Free consultation

Types of muscle tone disorders

Muscle tone disorders can be of several types:

Spasticity is muscle tension and tightness; resistance is felt when performing movements. Additionally, contractures, deformations, and emotional disturbances may form. This condition, without proper treatment, can lead to paralysis.
Rigidity – intermittency is felt during extension, tone increases when performing passive movements.
Hypotonia is manifested by flabby and flaccid muscles, there is no resistance during passive movements, coordination is impaired, problems with balance and emotional states.
Dystonia. Hypertonicity manifests itself in individual muscles, often combined with hypotonicity of other muscles. It is felt, first of all, at the beginning of the movement, as resistance, which then very abruptly passes.

The diagnosis should be made by a doctor after a thorough examination, as well as obtaining data from laboratory and computer studies. It often happens that muscle tone disorders are localized in several places or can have different manifestations, for example, the tone is increased on one side of the body and decreased on the other.

The main causes of bruxism in adults and jaw strain

psycho-emotional reasons: nervous overstrain, prolonged stress, difficult experiences of situations,
dental reasons: prolonged absence of teeth, malocclusion, diseases of the temporomandibular joint, complete or almost complete absence of teeth, inconvenient and poorly made crowns and dentures, fillings that are too high, injuries to the dental system,
disorders of the musculoskeletal system: injuries and curvature of the spine, poor posture, asymmetry in the work of the core muscles,
neurological causes: epilepsy, birth trauma, brain and central nervous system damage,
other reasons: taking certain medications, smoking, abuse of caffeine-containing drinks.

“We always take a comprehensive approach to solving problems of hypertonicity of facial muscles. First of all, we look for causes from the maxillofacial apparatus - we carry out a full diagnosis and examination, evaluate the functioning of the masticatory muscles, identify the patient’s characteristic habits and collect a medical history. If necessary, we refer the patient to specialized specialists - a neurologist, psychotherapist, etc. It is very important to cure hypertonicity - at least so that the patient in the future can safely begin high-quality dental restoration: implantation, prosthetics or treatment.”

Aida Vladimirovna Jutova, implant surgeon, periodontist, work experience of more than 9 years make an appointment

Benefits of going to the clinic

Self-treatment of increased muscle tone may be ineffective or lead to complications, so you need to contact a clinic with a team of specialists. The doctor will prescribe examinations, conduct an examination and identify the exact cause of the pathology. Experts will also help determine whether the complaints are related to increased muscle tone or whether the problem of poor health lies elsewhere.

After the diagnosis is made, an individual treatment complex is selected that suits the specific patient. In case of physiological disorders and poor lifestyle, physiotherapeutic methods and regulation of periods of activity and rest are chosen for treatment. In case of internal or infectious disorders, drug therapy is added and a whole range of rehabilitation measures is developed.

A specialist can also provide advice on preventative measures if you notice that your lifestyle may be contributing to the development of muscle hypertonicity.

We suggest you order the Almag treatment device inexpensively.

Botulinum therapy as one of the methods for treating hypertension and bruxism

Botulinum toxin type A, which is used in medicine and cosmetology, is able to relieve spasms and relax overstrained muscles, specifically reducing their activity or immobilizing them completely. But not forever, but only for a certain period of time - during this time the body adapts to new circumstances and stops overstraining a certain area. That is, the therapeutic effect for a diagnosis such as “bruxism” lasts for a long time, which is confirmed by numerous reviews from patients.

How it works?

Botulinum toxin type A is a neurotoxin produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. It blocks nerve impulses from the central nervous system to muscle fibers. That is, in fact, the drug paralyzes a certain muscle without transmitting motor commands from the brain to it.

In medicine and cosmetology, it is used in ultra-small and highly purified forms - that is, it is not poisonous or toxic to the body!

The drug is injected into clearly defined points in order to affect only a specific muscle and not affect the work of others. The dosages are harmless, and the blocking is reversible. Over time, the drug is completely eliminated from the body - usually this takes from 5 to 7 months. Gradually, neuromuscular conduction in the area is restored, and mobility returns to the muscle - but since it has “rested,” the spasmodic fibers are smoothed out, and the body adapts and normalizes the load.

Botulinum toxin only relieves hypertonicity and allows the muscle to relax. This is the basis of its well-known cosmetic effect - smoothing out wrinkles by blocking the work of facial muscles. That is, it is wrong to think that you can “pump yourself up” with botulinum toxin preparations - they do not in any way increase the volume of soft tissues.

To relieve excess tension in the masticatory muscles, we use the drug Botulax for intramuscular injection with 99% active substance content, thereby increasing the speed of onset and duration of the therapeutic effect. And thanks to the high degree of purification of the drug, the risk of adverse reactions is minimized. The dosage and course are selected by the doctor strictly individually!

Indications and contraindications for botulinum therapy of masticatory muscles

Indications

pain in the temporomandibular joint area,
limited mouth opening,
clicking, crunching, discomfort when moving the lower jaw,
pathological abrasion of enamel,
overstrain of the masticatory muscles, their soreness and heaviness,
preparation for implantation, classical prosthetics (especially veneers), orthodontic treatment.

Contraindications

pustular skin lesions, ulcers, acute infection in the area of the masticatory muscles,
viral and infectious diseases in the acute stage,
neuromuscular diseases (myasthenia gravis),
constant use of certain medications and antibiotics,
pregnancy and lactation period,
bleeding disorders,
diabetes,
allergic reactions to the components of the drug,
oncology and severe mental disorders.

general description

“What is uterine hypertonicity?” is a question that worries many pregnant women. This is increased muscle excitability, which is provoked by hormonal changes and negative psychophysiological factors. There are two categories of women at risk.

Young, under 18 years of age. In this case, the pathology occurs due to underdeveloped reproductive organs and physiological unpreparedness for gestation and birth of a fetus;
Mature, over 30 years old. In such women, increased stimulation of smooth muscles is caused by frequent abortions, previous infectious diseases and other gynecological pathologies.

Increased uterine tone, what to do? Hyperexcitability is a real threat to the normal development and health of the child. It is caused by a high risk of fetal hypoxia, termination of pregnancy (spontaneous miscarriage), premature birth with possible death for the baby.

Main stages of treatment

Step 1. Preparation for the procedure

A doctor, for example, an implant surgeon or an orthopedist, may refer you to the botulinum therapy procedure for comprehensive preparation before installing implants or dentures. But you can also contact your dentist yourself with complaints about the symptoms of dental bruxism. On the recommendation of a doctor, after consultation and diagnosis, you can begin the injection course.

No complicated preparation is required. 2-3 days before the procedure, it is advisable to eliminate alcohol and reduce the consumption of tea, coffee and energy drinks, as well as stop taking blood thinning medications and antibiotics.

Experienced doctors who follow safety precautions! Our specialists have undergone appropriate training, are certified and accurately calculate the dosage of the drug. We carry out treatment carefully, safely and with results!

Step 2. Administration of the drug

The procedure itself takes on average 20 minutes. The doctor conducts a follow-up examination and marks points for drug administration.

The doctor takes the ampoule out of the refrigerator and opens the disposable syringe with the medicine in front of you - this way you will make sure that the storage conditions and sterility of the drug are observed. How many units of Botox are needed for bruxism? The specialist will calculate the dose individually, based on the severity of the symptoms, and divide it into 3-4 parts - that is, you will be given several small injections in different areas of the muscle. For injections, disposable sterile syringes with thin needles are used, so the procedure is almost painless. But for greater comfort, the injection site can be numbed.

Step 3. Rehabilitation period

The drug begins to act immediately, but gains maximum strength gradually - over about 10-14 days, during which the spasmodic area completely relaxes. At this time, it is undesirable to overheat and overcool the problem area: that is, you will have to limit physical activity, trips to the bathhouse and sauna, as well as to the pool.

It is also important in the first days to touch your face as little as possible and not to steam or massage the injection sites.

The effect of the drug lasts up to 7 months, but may weaken faster depending on individual characteristics. Your doctor will tell you at your follow-up appointment whether you need a repeat course.

Changes that occur with hyperexcitability

Women who are expecting a baby are wondering what increased uterine tone means and what changes occur in the body when it occurs. During pregnancy, the reproductive organ becomes larger and its muscle layer also increases in volume (12-14 times).

You should also find out how uterine hypertonicity feels. A woman may feel the following:

unpleasant pulling or aching pain in the lower abdomen, similar to periodic pain (during menstruation);
increased tension of the peritoneum, upon palpation it is defined as hard, stone;
pain in the sacral and lumbar areas;
spotting (in more complex cases);
cramping painful sensations, the interval of which is no more than 5-7 minutes.

How to determine increased uterine tone? Contraction of the myometrium can be diagnosed even during normal gestation; this occurs at 37-40 weeks and is called training contractions, which do not cause any harm to both the baby and the expectant mother. In this case, the uterus is in normal condition, which makes it possible to carry the fetus to its due date. But situations arise that have a negative impact on tone in the early weeks, which in turn can cause a miscarriage or premature birth of a child.

Disadvantages of treating bruxism with Botulax

It is important to choose an experienced, certified doctor who has trained and has official approval for botulinum toxin injection therapy - this is a rather complex procedure with its own subtleties. If the rules of storage, selection of dosage and administration technique are not followed, complications may occur. And if hematomas, bruises or slight swelling basically go away on their own, then difficulties with swallowing and chewing should be eliminated together with a doctor.

Our doctors have been trained and certified - treating hypertonicity with botulinum therapy in our clinic is completely safe

Why is botulinum therapy not enough to eliminate hypertension?

You need to understand that Botox treatment in dentistry, like orthopedic treatment of bruxism (that is, the manufacture of special protective mouth guards for teeth during bruxism), is only an additional, and not an independent method. Botulinum therapy protects against the consequences of muscle strain - that is, visible relief will actually occur after administration of the drug. The spasm will go away, the muscles will relax, you will stop involuntarily clenching your jaw and thereby injuring your teeth. But as soon as the effect of botulinum toxin wears off, the problem may return, albeit to a lesser extent.

Of course, if it was just a formed habit based on nervousness, and the causes of bruxism are psychosomatic or neurological, then during treatment you have a good chance to completely get rid of it. But if the source lies in other pathologies and disorders, then you also need to address them: take care of your posture, solve bite problems, restore damaged teeth, replace low-quality dentures, etc. And botulinum therapy will become an effective comprehensive measure.

Main types of diagnostics to identify

Uterine hypertonicity during pregnancy, what is it and what diagnostic methods are needed? When a pregnant woman comes to the clinic with suspected increased smooth muscle excitability, she is given a subjective and objective interview. The main reason for hospitalization is increased pain, a “petrified stomach”.

In order to know exactly how to get rid of uterine hypertonicity, it is necessary to conduct several studies.

Palpation of the abdomen, which is normally soft and painless.
Ultrasonography. Thanks to it, it is possible to identify the type of thickened layer, local or total, and based on which wall it is observed on, a plan is determined on how to reduce uterine hypertonicity.
Metria tone. This is done using a device with a built-in sensor. Using this device, the doctor will be able to decide exactly how to relieve uterine hypertonicity in the early stages.

Why are mouthguards needed for bruxism?

Another additional way to treat hypertonicity of the masticatory muscles in adults is to wear a special protective mouth guard (they are also called a “mouth guard” or “bruxism trainer”). These are plastic and dense overlays for teeth, which are worn mainly at night, and in case of severe symptoms, worn during the day. They are made from hypoallergenic materials in a dental laboratory individually for the patient or at the factory, if we are talking about mass production.

But this is also an auxiliary measure - a mouth guard helps muscles relax, protects against tooth wear and the consequences of bruxism, but does not remove the cause of hypertonicity.

protection of enamel from cracks, chips, increased abrasion due to involuntary clenching of teeth,
protection of artificial crowns, dentures (including those on implants) or brace systems from damage,
relieving tension and pain in masticatory muscles and joints,
protection against movement and displacement of teeth due to constant pressure on them,
gradual return of the jaws and joints to the correct position in the event of their displacement (of course, only individual mouthguards for bruxism made by a doctor work this way).

Prevention of muscle tone disorders

Increased muscle tone is not an independent disease - it is a sign of an unhealthy lifestyle or serious disturbances in the functioning of certain systems. If the disease is not congenital, then preventive measures are very effective to avoid high muscle tone. The following is recommended:

Lead a healthy and active lifestyle. Avoid the use of alcohol, nicotine and stimulants.
For those who work at a computer or in one position for a long time, be sure to do gymnastics every half hour, walking for at least 5 minutes.
It is recommended to increase the amount of physical activity - walking in the evenings or walking home from work, gym, swimming.
Follow a daily routine that requires 8 hours of healthy sleep, exercise, physical activity and a balanced diet.
Regularly attend preventive general massage. It is recommended to take a course of 10 sessions every six months.
If the main activity is related to heavy physical labor or sports, then it is necessary to undergo routine diagnostics, ensure quality rest and good sleep.

To avoid the development of hypertension due to non-physiological reasons, it is necessary to lead a healthy lifestyle, undergo regular medical examinations, promptly treat or prevent chronic diseases, increase immunity, and not have contact with patients with various infectious diseases.

In order to reduce the likelihood of intrauterine causes of hypertension in children during pregnancy, it is necessary to exclude the use of alcohol, narcotic and medicinal substances, and nicotine. It is necessary to adhere to an active lifestyle, monitor a balanced diet, undergo timely examinations, and avoid stress, nervous tension and overwork.

Choosing a sleep guard for bruxism: types and price

Firstly, there are universal and individual options: finished products are produced in factories using standard templates, and custom-made mouth guards are made exactly to your measurements.

Also, as we mentioned, mouthguards are not only night guards. The vast majority of patients suffer from teeth grinding during sleep, but a number of people cannot control jaw clenching during the day - for such cases, there are options for daytime overlays that are more invisible and do not affect pronunciation.

A mouthguard for teeth against bruxism, especially a night guard, can be bought at a pharmacy (either in Moscow or in any other city). It costs about two to three times less than a custom-made one. The quality depends on the manufacturer, and universal options have limitations in size and shape, so they simply may not fit the dentition. But the most important limitation, which patients often forget about, is that a ready-made onlay should be purchased on the recommendation of a dentist, and not self-medicated. Alas, without diagnosing and searching for the causes of spasm of the masticatory muscles, a ready-made mouth guard will do more harm than good.

Therefore, it is better if the mouth guard is made individually - based on a cast of your jaws. Individual mouthguards for bruxism, made for sleep, take into account anatomical features to the smallest detail and do not overload the teeth. And if you need to wear the veneer during the day, then it should match the shape of the teeth so that it is truly invisible when communicating. You can order such a mouthguard for bruxism in dentistry by contacting your doctor about this problem.

The doctor will also give recommendations on how long a day it is best to wear a mouth guard, how to care for it, and when the product should be replaced.

Symptoms of smooth muscle hyperexcitability and how long does it last?

Many women expecting a long-awaited replenishment are often interested in the question of how uterine hypertonicity manifests itself. Every pregnant woman needs to know this, so she can more accurately tell her complaints to the attending gynecologist.

Symptoms of increased uterine tone manifest themselves as follows:

a tight feeling in the lower abdomen that occurs more than five times a day;
“stone uterus”, lasting several hours;
nagging pain in the pelvic area, accompanied by heaviness. sometimes the pain may resemble contractions;
increased frequency of urination;
the presence of bloody discharge from the vagina, ̶ this is considered an indirect symptom; to diagnose hyperexcitability, several differential studies must be carried out.

How to understand that the tone of the uterus is increased without consulting a doctor? First of all, you should listen to your body properly. Only in this way can you independently determine whether the tone is physiological or pathological, requiring emergency assistance. The latter can occur in the first and last weeks of pregnancy.

How to determine uterine hypertonicity in the early stages? It manifests itself with the following symptoms:

severe heaviness in the lower abdomen;
nagging pain in the pelvic area, similar to menstrual pain;
sharp pain radiating to the sacral and lumbar areas.

Regarding how to recognize uterine hypertonicity in the later weeks, the symptoms of this period include:

a sharp decrease in volume in the abdominal area;
increased compaction of the uterus, as a result of which it becomes “stony”;
painful, unpleasant feeling in the groin, lower back.

Why is uterine hypertonicity dangerous during pregnancy? It is important to know that if the above symptoms are accompanied by spotting or bloody discharge, you should not panic, go to bed and call an ambulance. As for the question about the duration of hypertonicity, the answer to it is ambiguous. This directly depends on the physiological characteristics of the woman, as well as on the effectiveness of the assistance provided - both primary and medical.

What happens if hypertonicity of the masticatory muscles is not treated?

The masseter muscle, which moves the lower jaw, is the most powerful in the group of facial muscles. By contracting, it is capable of creating a force of up to 80-100 kg (compare - in order to chew food efficiently, we use barely 10% of this force).

Chronic spasm and overstrain of such strong masticatory muscles creates excess pressure on the teeth, periodontal tissues and temporomandibular joints. From here, many unpleasant consequences for the jaw system and health in general develop along the chain:

abrasion of enamel and reduction in tooth height,
chips and cracks, various enamel defects,
frequent caries,
overload of periodontal tissues and the development of gum diseases - in particular, dangerous periodontitis,
failure of fillings, crowns and dentures,
threat to implants, the possibility of their overload and loosening,
swelling and inflammation of the masticatory muscles,
dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint, pain and discomfort when chewing,
deterioration of blood circulation and tissue nutrition in the area of muscle spasm,
increased headaches, dizziness, noise and pain in the ears,
overstrain of the neck and back muscles, development of posture problems,
violation of facial aesthetics: angular jaw, deep wrinkles around the nose and lips, haggard face and reduction of the lower third.

Is it possible to undergo implantation for bruxism?

Only on condition that an integrated approach is applied to implantation and subsequent installation of the prosthesis. In order for your new teeth to serve you for a long time, we carefully plan the entire course of treatment from start to finish: we conduct in-depth diagnostics, identify related problems that may affect the result, take measures to eliminate them, and step by step work through the entire course of the operation and prosthetics.

For example, our patients often experience bruxism and problems with the temporomandibular joints due to the fact that the dental system has not been working properly for a very long time - the teeth were destroyed, the load was distributed unevenly. In itself, the return of all teeth through complex implantation is already a treatment for such conditions, since we think over dentures taking into account the correct functioning of muscles and joints, normal closure of the dentition, etc. But the body will need time to adjust to normal functioning. And that is why in cases of bruxism we are taking additional measures - increasing the number of implants installed for the entire jaw, making prostheses reinforced with a frame and made from more durable materials, and making protective soft mouth guards.

But if bruxism in adults cannot be cured only by dental methods, since the problem is not with the jaw system, but with the same psychosomatics, then we refer the patient for treatment to a specialized specialist - and return to dental restoration afterwards. We care about your health and do everything to ensure that the achieved treatment results last not just for a couple of years, but throughout your entire life.

Prevention of bruxism: how to help yourself

By prevention we mean measures that prevent dental hypertonicity and bruxism in adults, because without finding the cause and monitoring a specialist, treating them at home is an unsafe activity, as with any disease. So if you notice alarming symptoms, your first step is to get diagnosed and get a plan to comprehensively eliminate this problem.

You may need the help of several specialists (neurologist, dentist, gastroenterologist, ENT doctor, psychotherapist), because bruxism occurs in different people for very different reasons. You may be prescribed courses of physiotherapy, taking certain medications (for example, magnesium supplements), but all this, of course, is very individual.

Self-help measures are helpful if you discuss them with your doctor. For example, you can do a light relaxing massage against bruxism in the area of the chin and temples. There are also a number of exercises that can help relieve muscle spasms; it is useful to repeat them regularly before bed. Relieve general stress: sleep enough hours, walk more in the fresh air, reduce the amount of coffee and strong tea, take relaxing baths with herbs, avoid anxious situations.

All this will help consolidate the results of complex professional treatment and forget about unpleasant symptoms.

Possible prognosis and prevention

When uterine hypertonicity occurs, what to do and what is the further prognosis? Pregnancy is a natural, but very complex condition. If you notice any unpleasant sensations or worsening of your condition, you should consult your doctor. In this way, the woman will receive the necessary help and consultation on prevention. And this:

bed rest;
walking outside; elimination of stress;
proper nutrition.

If assistance is provided on time and in full, the outcome will be favorable. Otherwise, a miscarriage (in the early stages) or premature birth (after 20 weeks) may occur.