
Jul
Waking up with a sore jaw or headache is the last thing you want after a night’s sleep. Unfortunately, if you chronically grind your teeth, these unpleasant symptoms become part of your lifestyle. Over time, habitual teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism) cause your teeth to wear down, resulting in costly and uncomfortable restorative treatments.
Losing the battle to bruxism in Bend, Oregon? The good news is that Dr. Jared Adams of Cascadia Family Dental offers Botox, a painless and non-invasive treatment for bruxism. Botox relaxes your jaw muscles to reduce bruxism-induced pressure for a pain-free lifestyle.
We all grind our teeth when eating or when a little stressed. However, if you chronically grind your teeth, night after night, you may have bruxism. This condition mostly occurs when sleeping, although some patients can grind teeth during the day (awake bruxism).
How can I know I have bruxism? Watch out for the symptoms below, and visit a dentist for a proper diagnosis and treatment.
Bruxism can reduce your quality of life and subject you to expensive and time-consuming treatments. When you notice signs of bruxism, don’t delay treatment — the problem won’t resolve itself. Instead, please book an appointment with Dr. Adams and the team for treatment.
Botox treatments are popular for reducing wrinkles and fine lines on the face for a youthful appearance. In addition, this treatment is FDA-approved to reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches and migraines — these aren’t the only uses of Botox.
Botox, when injected in the masseter muscles — the muscles primarily responsible for chewing — decreases their activity, resulting in reduced teeth grinding and clenching. When your muscles don’t grind without much force (typically, they exert grinding pressure of up to 250 pounds!), your jaw muscles and joints heal over time, and your teeth no longer suffer damage.
Before Botox treatment, Dr. Adams will perform an in-depth oral exam to examine your teeth, jaw muscles, and joints. Diagnosing bruxism is challenging because the sufferer doesn’t know its existence. Since the habit happens involuntarily when sleeping, the teeth grinder doesn’t notice it unless the bed partner complains of the grinding noises at night.
After a diagnosis, we’ll talk to you about the possible treatments. If you opt for Botox, the treatment is quick and painless. We’ll use micro-thin needles to inject Botox into your jaw muscles. You’ll be out of our office after 30 minutes and can resume your routine activities almost immediately. The only side effect you may experience is minor swelling or bruising, which you can manage with an ice pack.
Your treatment takes effect between 3-14 days. If you are new to this treatment, we’ll ask you for a follow-up treatment two to four weeks after the procedure. The goal is to ensure you received the correct dosage and that the treatment works as expected.
Botox effects last between four to six months, depending on how fast your body metabolizes Botox. Since Botox effects aren’t permanent, we recommend repeating the procedure every four to six months.
Tired of morning headaches, jaw pain, and dental damage? Dr. Jared Adams and his team are here to help. Botox injections to your masseter muscles will eliminate bruxism-related symptoms for a pain-free life.
Please call (541) 382-1279 to schedule an appointment with Cascadia Family Dental. We also welcome new and existing patients from nearby locations.
With unwavering dedication, Dr. Jared Adams combines his extensive education, passion for dental wellness, and commitment to the highest ethical standards to create transformative smiles and foster enduring patient relationships.
Dr. Adams's journey began with a persistent childhood dream of becoming a dentist. He holds dual pre-dental degrees in Human Resources and Biology from Gonzaga University and Eastern Washington University. Graduating from Loma Linda University with a Doctorate of Dental Surgery in 2013, Dr. Adams's commitment to excellence is evident through his pursuit of continuous learning, culminating in his recent achievement of the prestigious FAGD, a distinction held by only 3% of dentists nationwide.
Dr. Adams is an esteemed member of several dental organizations, including the Academy of General Dentistry and the American Dental Association, showcasing his dedication to staying at the forefront of dental advancements. In Dr. Jared Adams, you'll find a dentist whose expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness are evident not only in his professional achievements but also in the warmth and compassion he approaches patient care. Your smile is in capable hands.