Injection of Xeomin for clenching involves easy, gentle injections into the masseter muscles and in some cases, additional injection into the temporalis muscles. Masseter injections are administered from the outer surface of the face near the lower border of the jaw bone. Temporalis injections are administered into the bulk of the muscle above the temple area around the hairline. Although neuromodulators for esthetic (upper face) areas often take days to take effect, my patients who have received the injections for clenching report relief within 24 hours, and sometimes immediately. The effect typically lasts 4 months. My patients have reported lasting effects of from 2 to 4 months. Every patient in my office who has received botulinum therapy has raved about the relief that they finally achieved from chronic pain.
The National Institutes of Health recognizes this safe and effective treatment. See http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3634214/ and http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12928140 for more information.
The following is a link to two studies demonstrating the safe and effective use of neuromodulators for clenching.
The Mayo clinic statement on the use of neuromodulators to reduce muscle overactivity: http://www.mayoclinic.org/botox/
In addition, see this link from Pub Med, titled Interventional neurology: botulinum toxin as a potent symptomatic treatment in neurology. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7982770
To reduce the chronic, severe clenching forces that have caused you tooth pain, tooth fracture, filling and crown fracture, tooth loss, and headaches, I recommend masseter injections of Xeomin neuromodulator every four months. It is hoped that in reducing muscle activity, the muscle will retrain itself, through atrophy and decrease the need for treatment over time. This is not guaranteed, but has been reported.
I hope this information has made your life a little better.
Smiles,
Dr. Amy Cook
source: http://www.botoxmedical.com/about-botox/botox-history/