woman with bruxism

PRIVATE BOTOX TREATMENT FOR BRUXISM (TEETH GRINDING) IN ESSEX

Botox Treatment for Bruxism (Teeth Grinding)

Private Botox for Bruxism (Teeth Grinding) At Essex Private Doctors

Suffering with teeth grinding (bruxism)? Ease jaw tension, protect your teeth, and finally stop that constant ache in your face

If you’re grinding your teeth constantly, experiencing jaw pain, or your ADHD medication is causing severe clenching, I can help. I’m Dr Grundy-Wheeler, and I specialise in Botox treatment for bruxism.

Why patients choose this treatment:

• Works 24 hours a day – no uncomfortable night guard to wear
• Maintain your ADHD medication effectiveness without jaw damage
• Results last 4-6 months, with longer intervals over time

• Resume normal activities immediately after treatment

 

Dr Grundy-Wheeler – Specialist in Bruxism Treatment
GP with advanced training in Botox for jaw disorders | ADHD diagnosis & management specialist

What Is Bruxism?

Bruxism is the habitual grinding or clenching of the teeth. For some people, it happens mainly at night; for others, it’s a subconscious habit during the day that they may not even notice until the pain becomes unbearable.

Over time, this constant overuse of the jaw muscles can lead to:

• Pain or tightness in the jaw, temples, or face
• Morning headaches or facial tension
• Tooth wear, cracked fillings, or dental damage
• Difficulty opening or relaxing the jaw
• Enlarged jaw muscles creating a wider, more squared jawline appearance
• Disrupted sleep for you or your partner

In many people, bruxism is made worse by stress, poor sleep, or certain medications – particularly ADHD stimulants.

If you’ve ever caught yourself clenching your jaw so tightly it aches, or your partner has mentioned you grind your teeth in your sleep, you’re likely experiencing bruxism. It’s surprisingly common, often under-diagnosed, and without treatment, can lead to significant dental damage and chronic pain.

Understanding Bruxism (Teeth Grinding)

You’re experiencing persistent teeth grinding and jaw clenching that’s disrupting your life. The constant jaw tension interferes with work and concentration. You’re not sleeping properly. Your teeth are showing wear. The pain is relentless.

For those taking ADHD medication, the situation is particularly challenging. Your medication – Elvanse, Vyvanse, Ritalin, Concerta, or similar – has transformed your ability to function. You can finally focus at work, manage daily tasks, and be present in your relationships. But the jaw clenching has become so severe you’re considering reducing your dosage, potentially compromising your mental health treatment.

Perhaps you’ve already tried a dental splint. You may have spent £800-£1,500 on a custom night guard that now sits unused in your bathroom drawer. Many patients find splints intolerable due to gagging sensations, discomfort during sleep, mouth ulcers, or simply because they don’t address daytime grinding when you’re at work, in meetings, or commuting.

And here’s the thing about splints: they rarely help with daytime clenching, which is often where the real problem lies.

There’s an effective treatment that works 24 hours a day without requiring you to wear anything.

man with jaw pain

How Botox Injection Treatment For Bruxism Works

When used in small, carefully measured doses, Botox (botulinum toxin type A) works by gently relaxing the jaw muscle contraction responsible for clenching and grinding.

Botox for bruxism reduces the excessive force in your jaw muscles – specifically your masseter, temporalis, and occasionally pterygoid muscles.
At Essex Private Doctors, we target the masseter and temporalis muscles – the large muscles at the side of your face and temples that do most of the clenching work. In some patients, we may also include the pterygoid muscles, which control side-to-side jaw movement.

This is medical treatment for pain relief and tooth protection, not a cosmetic procedure. By reducing the bite force, Botox eases tension and pain whilst still allowing you to speak, eat, and smile completely normally. It simply takes away that constant tightness you may not even realise you’re holding.

We use larger quantities of product than cosmetic treatments.
We target functional muscles, not expressive muscles.
We aim to reduce force, not eliminate movement entirely.
Results last longer – typically 4-6 months rather than 3-4 months for cosmetic applications.

Dr Henry-Grundy Wheeler has completed specialist training with maxillofacial consultants and dental specialists who focus exclusively on jaw disorders.
This is evidence-based medical treatment, not aesthetic practice.

ADHD Medication & Bruxism

Having completed training in ADHD diagnosis and working extensively with ADHD patients, I regularly encounter medication-induced bruxism. This is precisely why I offer this treatment.

Many people taking stimulant medications for ADHD experience increased jaw clenching or grinding. For those patients, reducing the medication isn’t always an option, as it can affect their concentration and daily functioning. In these cases, Botox can be a highly effective solution.

We work closely with clinicians experienced in ADHD management, and this treatment has already brought significant relief for many stimulant-related bruxism patients.

All stimulant medications can cause teeth grinding, though certain medications are more problematic:

Most likely to cause bruxism:

  • Lisdexamfetamine (Elvanse/Vyvanse)
  • Pure dexamphetamine

Less likely to cause bruxism:

  • Methylphenidate (Ritalin/Concerta)
  • Guanfacine

Rarely causes significant grinding:

  • Atomoxetine (Strattera)

Your ADHD medication has transformed your life. You can focus at work. You’re managing daily responsibilities. Your relationships have improved because you’re present in conversations. You’re thriving.

But your jaw is being destroyed.

You’re clenching through every work meeting. Your dentist is concerned about tooth wear. The jaw pain is relentless. And you’re facing this impossible choice:

Protect your mental health or protect your jaw?

If your jaw functioned normally before starting stimulant medication, you’re an ideal candidate for this treatment.

By reducing your masseter muscle activity with Botox, you can continue taking medication that helps you function effectively without the destructive jaw effects.
By softening the jaw muscles, we can reduce pain and clenching whilst allowing the medication to continue working as intended.

Am I Suitable for Botox for Bruxism Treatment?

You’re Likely Suitable If:

• During the day, at night, or both
• Jaw muscles are permanently tense
• Teeth show wear despite protective measures

• Taking Elvanse, Vyvanse, dexamphetamine, Ritalin, Concerta, or similar stimulants
• Medication provides genuine benefit for ADHD symptoms
• Jaw clenching is severe enough you’re considering reducing your dose
• You need to maintain your mental health treatment without jaw damage

• Pain in masseter muscles (sides of jaw)
• Pain radiates to temples
• Symptoms worsen throughout the day

• Grinding occurs during work, meetings, commuting
• Night guards don’t address your actual problem
• You need 24-hour relief, not just night-time protection

• Splints cause gagging or choking sensations
• Uncomfortable for side sleepers
• Cause mouth ulcers
• You’ve spent money on splints that remain unused

Who Shouldn’t Have This Treatment

Botox for bruxism isn’t suitable for everyone. This treatment is not appropriate if you:

Have mechanical TMJ problems:

• Jaw locks open or closed
• Severely restricted opening (less than 35mm between front teeth)
• Jaw subluxation where joint slips out of place

Other exclusions:

• Pregnant or breastfeeding
• Have an active dental or facial infection
• Have certain neuromuscular conditions
• Haven’t yet explored basic dental interventions or splints

If you have mechanical jaw issues, you need specialist maxillofacial assessment. During your assessment, if I identify mechanical problems, I’ll refer you to the appropriate specialist rather than proceed with treatment that won’t address your underlying condition.
If I determine you’d be better served by dental or specialist referral, I’ll guide you appropriately.

jaw palpation

Your Treatment Journey

Every patient begins with a comprehensive assessment. During your consultation, I will:

• Examine your jaw movement and bite pattern
• Check for any locking or reduced opening
• Measure your jaw opening range and check for clicking or restricted movement
• Review previous dental splints or treatments you’ve tried
• Assess your masseter muscle bulk
• Identify the specific muscles responsible for your discomfort
• Review your medical and dental history, including current medications with particular attention to stimulants
• Discuss any previous Botox treatments

We’ll discuss your grinding pattern in detail. When does it occur – day, night, or both? Is there associated jaw pain? What triggers or alleviates symptoms?

I’ll refer you to an appropriate maxillofacial specialist.

Once we’ve established suitability, treatment is straightforward.

For bruxism, we target your masseter muscle first – the primary chewing muscle at the angle of your jaw that becomes enlarged with constant grinding.
We’ll likely also treat your temporalis muscle at your temples. The pterygoid muscles may require treatment if you exhibit significant side-to-side grinding.

Most patients require treatment to at least two muscle areas. Treating only the masseter whilst leaving temporalis overactive would simply relocate the problem.

The injection process takes approximately 15-20 minutes.
You may feel brief pinprick sensations at each injection point.
Most people find it easily tolerable – most patients describe this as momentary discomfort rather than significant pain.
You won’t notice any immediate change – Botox requires time to take effect.

We’re aiming to reduce muscle force, not create paralysis.
Your jaw will continue to function normally.

Resume normal activities immediately. There’s no downtime, and you can return to work straight afterwards. No recovery period required. You may notice slight redness or minor swelling at injection sites, typically resolving within hours.

You can eat normally, speak normally, work, and exercise moderately.
Avoid particularly intense exercise for 24 hours.
Don’t rub or massage treated areas for 24 hours, and try not to lie completely flat for 4 hours.

First few days: You’re unlikely to notice significant change. Botox requires time to work – don’t be concerned if you don’t feel different immediately.

Weeks 1-2: You’ll begin noticing reduced grinding force. The constant tension starts to ease. Many patients report suddenly becoming aware their jaw feels relaxed, often for the first time in months.

Weeks 2-4: Peak effect. Your grinding and clenching should be significantly reduced. Many patients report improved sleep and reduced jaw tension.

We’ll meet for a review at six weeks to check your results and, if necessary, provide a top-up. 

The effects typically last four to six months, sometimes longer.

Effects typically last from months four to six, often extending longer with repeated treatments over time.

Long-term benefits: With regular treatments, the jaw muscles gradually reduce in bulk (atrophy), meaning you may need treatment less frequently over time – sometimes only once a year or every couple of years. Treated muscles undergo gradual atrophy, becoming slightly smaller. This means you’ll eventually require treatments less frequently. Many patients extend intervals to once or twice yearly after initial treatment phase.

At Essex Private Doctors, we’ll always give you a clear breakdown of the fees before you begin.

What Changes and What Doesn’t

What You’ll Notice:

Reduced grinding force – You’ll still chew normally, but won’t grind with destructive intensity
Less jaw tension and aching – The constant tightness eases significantly
Improved sleep – If grinding was disrupting sleep, this typically improves
More comfortable jaw function – Throughout the day, your jaw simply feels better
For ADHD patients specifically – Your medication continues working exactly as before for focus and concentration. We’ve eliminated the jaw-clenching side effect whilst maintaining medication efficacy.

 

What Remains Unchanged:

Your ability to eat all foods normally – We’re reducing force, not eliminating function
Your speech patterns – No impact whatsoever on how you speak
Your facial expressions – You’ll look exactly the same – nothing will be ‘frozen’
Your singing voice – Completely unaffected
Your ability to yawn or open wide – No restriction on jaw opening for dental procedures
Your appearance – Though some facial slimming may occur as the muscle relaxes, this isn’t our primary objective.

mouth guard for bruxism

Botox vs Dental Splints For Bruxism

Many people are advised by their dentist to try a mouth guard or splint, and these can work well for some.

Properly fitted dental splints can be highly effective and should arguably be considered first-line treatment for many patients.

When Dental Splints Don’t Work:

But not everyone can tolerate them. Many patients find dental splints intolerable:

• Trigger gagging sensations, particularly for those with sensitive gag reflexes
• Create feelings of choking or suffocation
• Uncomfortable for side sleepers
• Occasionally cause mouth ulcers
• Function only whilst worn – useless for daytime grinding
• Require consistent nightly compliance – many end up abandoned

• Can feel unhygienic or inconvenient

 

For stimulant-induced bruxism specifically: Splints rarely help with daytime clenching, which is often where the real problem lies.
If grinding occurs predominantly during waking hours whilst at work, in meetings, or commuting, a night guard simply doesn’t address the actual problem.

Understanding Risks and Side Effects

When carried out by a qualified medical practitioner, Botox is very safe. I believe in providing complete transparency about potential risks.

Occasional Side Effects
Minor asymmetry – One side may respond slightly differently to the other. Temporary weakness or mild asymmetry. Usually subtle and temporary. Resolves completely when Botox wears off. Can be adjusted at your 6-week review if it occurs.

Temporary injection site reactions – Mild bruising or tenderness at injection sites. Slight redness, swelling, or bruising at injection points. Resolves within hours to a few days. Rarely affects daily activities.

Rare Complications (Fewer than 1 in 1,000 patients)
Parotid gland involvement – The parotid is your salivary gland located near the masseter muscle. Inadvertent injection could cause temporary dry mouth on one side. We carefully avoid this gland during treatment. We take care to avoid the salivary glands and surrounding structures to minimise these risks. Most cases resolve completely. Permanent change is extremely rare.

Variable Response
Some patients don’t respond as favourably as others. We start conservatively to assess your individual response. We can adjust dosage at your 6-week review. If treatment isn’t improving your pain, I can refer you to appropriate maxillofacial consultants or specialist dentists.

woman thinking about questions

Frequently Asked Questions

No. We’re not targeting muscles that control facial expressions.
Your appearance remains the same, though you may notice slight facial slimming over time as the masseter muscle relaxes.
Most patients view this positively, though it’s not our primary objective.

Absolutely. We’re reducing bite force, not eliminating it.
You’ll chew comfortably and can eat all foods normally, including tough or chewy foods.

There’s no impact whatsoever. Your voice remains completely unchanged.
Many professional speakers and singers have this treatment without any effect on their work.

Yes, this is precisely what Botox addresses that splints cannot.
The treatment works throughout your waking hours, including during work, meetings, and commuting.

Completely unchanged. We’re only affecting jaw muscles, not neurochemistry.
Your medication continues working exactly as before for focus and concentration. We’ve simply removed the jaw-clenching side effect.

Quite possibly. If you couldn’t tolerate wearing a night guard due to gagging, discomfort, or because it didn’t address daytime grinding, Botox offers an alternative without requiring any appliance.

We start conservatively and review at 6 weeks. If we’re not seeing benefit, we can adjust dosage or acknowledge this treatment isn’t suitable for you. I’ll refer you to appropriate specialists rather than continue to treat.

No, Botox is contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Possibly. We’ll discuss your complete medical history during assessment.
Certain neuromuscular conditions may preclude treatment, but most medical conditions don’t affect suitability.

This isn’t problematic. Botox doesn’t prevent you opening wide for dental treatment. Inform your dentist you’ve had Botox to jaw muscles, but it won’t interfere with their work.

Avoid particularly intense exercise for 24 hours. Otherwise, normal activity is fine immediately following treatment.

Not at all. We simply adapt your treatment plan accordingly. Previous aesthetic Botox doesn’t preclude medical Botox treatment.

We review at 6 weeks and can top up then if needed. After that, most patients don’t need further treatment for 4-6 months, with intervals extending over time.

You’ll need a face-to-face consultation if you have a mechanical jaw problem (such as locking or dislocation), are pregnant or breastfeeding, have an active dental or facial infection, have certain neuromuscular conditions, or haven’t yet explored basic dental or splint interventions.

If we think you’d be better served by dental or specialist referral, I’ll guide you appropriately.

Why Choose Dr Grundy-Wheeler for Bruxism Treatment

Specialist Medical Training

I’m Dr Grundy-Wheeler, a General Practitioner with specialist training in Botox for bruxism and TMJ disorders. I learned from maxillofacial consultants and dental specialists who work exclusively in this field.

I’ve also completed training in ADHD diagnosis and management. I work extensively with ADHD patients and understand the medication-bruxism connection thoroughly. This understanding comes from clinical experience treating patients facing the impossible choice between mental health and jaw health.

This is medical intervention for pain relief and tooth protection, not cosmetic treatment. My approach is grounded in evidence-based medicine. Unlike purely aesthetic practitioners, my focus is on your wellbeing and long-term outcomes.

If you require onward referral to maxillofacial specialists, dentists, or other relevant professionals, I’ve established relationships and can ensure you’re directed to appropriate expertise.

 

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you’re experiencing teeth grinding or jaw clenching, particularly if related to ADHD medication, I can help you determine whether Botox treatment is appropriate for your situation.

If you’re struggling with jaw clenching, grinding, or facial tension – and you’re tired of splints, book your botox for bruxism appointment.