Home / Treatments / Jaw clenching & bruxism relief

Facial aesthetics · Bite and jaw

Let the jaw rest.

Jaw clenching treatment in London for people who grind or clench, often with stress, and are left with tension, headaches, worn teeth or a squarer jawline. Muscle-relaxing injections into the masseter ease the clenching, and as a dental practice we assess the bite and the wear too. From £300, quoted after a face-to-face consultation with our prescribing clinician; nothing is prescribed remotely or sold off the shelf.

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A surgery at Sardinia House with its chair and screen

Guide fee

From £300 · quoted after consultation

Visits

Consultation, then treatment, then a review

Appointment

30 minutes

With

Dr Tara Khayatpoor and Vaida Vitkeviciute

Who it is for

Signs the jaw is working too hard

Tension, discomfort and frequent headaches

A jaw that aches on waking, muscles that feel tight by the afternoon and headaches that start at the temples are common signs of clenching. The masseter is a powerful muscle, and when it never fully relaxes the discomfort spreads.

Worn, shortened or chipped teeth

Grinding wears enamel away a little at a time. Edges flatten, front teeth shorten and small chips appear. We see this at every check-up because the scan records it, and in most cases it is the reason the subject comes up at all.

A squarer jawline and a shorter face

A muscle that works constantly grows, so the angle of the jaw broadens. As the teeth wear, the lower face also loses height, and the two together give a heavier, prematurely aged look that people often cannot quite put their finger on.

A night guard alone has not been enough

A guard protects the teeth but does not stop the clenching itself. Where the habit is strong, relaxing the muscle alongside wearing a guard protects the teeth, relieves the discomfort and softens the jawline at the same time.

The difference

What makes the difference

Relaxing the muscle at the source

Muscle-relaxing injections into the masseter reduce the force the muscle can produce, so clenching eases and grinding does less harm. Chewing and speaking are unaffected. Over a few months the muscle softens and the jawline usually looks slimmer.

The advantage of a dental practice

Clenching is a dental problem as much as a cosmetic one. Our clinicians assess the bite, check the wear on your teeth against previous scans and decide whether a night guard is needed too, which a clinic without dental training cannot do.

Guards and repair when they are needed

Where the teeth need protecting, a night guard is made from your scan on site. Where wear has already shortened or chipped the teeth, the tooth wear team can plan rebuilding once the clenching is under control.

A prescribing clinician, in person

These injections are prescription-only medicines, so they are provided only after a face-to-face consultation with our prescribing clinician. Dr Tara Khayatpoor and Vaida Vitkeviciute both provide the treatment; nothing is prescribed remotely and nothing is sold off the shelf.

The process

From assessment to relief

Consultation and assessment

A free, face-to-face consultation with our prescribing clinician. We examine the jaw muscles, the joints and the bite, scan the teeth to record the wear, take photographs and go through your medical history. You receive a written quote.

Treatment

A 30-minute appointment. The injection points on each masseter are located by feeling the muscle while you clench, then small amounts are placed with a fine needle. Most people describe a brief sting and return to work afterwards.

Settling

The muscle begins to relax within a few days and the full effect arrives at around two weeks. Jaw tension and headaches usually ease first; the change in the jawline follows over the next two to three months.

Review and the longer plan

We see you at around two weeks to check the result, then agree the interval for any repeat, usually every three to four months at first. If a night guard or repair to worn teeth is needed, that is planned alongside.

Afterwards

Aftercare

Avoid rubbing or massaging the jaw for the rest of the day, and leave heavy exercise, alcohol and heat such as saunas until tomorrow. A little tenderness or a small bruise over the muscle is possible and fades. Chewing feels normal; very tough foods may feel slightly more effort for a few weeks. Keep wearing your night guard if you have one.

Guide fees

Facial aesthetics consultationfree

Jaw clenching injectionsfrom £300, quoted after consultation

Night guard, soft£395

Night guard, balanced hard£895

Guide fees. Nothing is started until your plan, with every fee written down, is in your hands. See all fees

Good to know

The questions we are asked most

How much do masseter injections for jaw clenching cost in London?+

At Sardinia House in Holborn, jaw clenching injections are from £300 as a guide, with the exact fee quoted in writing after a free consultation. The amount needed varies with the size and strength of the muscle, which is why we assess you first rather than publishing a fixed price.

Do I need a face-to-face consultation?+

Yes. Jaw clenching injections are prescription-only medicines, so they are provided only after a face-to-face consultation with our prescribing clinician. Nothing is prescribed remotely and nothing is sold off the shelf. The consultation also lets us assess your bite and tooth wear.

Does the treatment hurt?+

Most people feel a brief sting at each injection point and a little tenderness over the muscle afterwards, which settles within a day. The appointment takes 30 minutes and no numbing is needed.

How long does it last?+

Relief from clenching usually lasts three to four months at first, and the interval often lengthens once the muscle has reduced in size over a few courses. The jawline softens gradually over two to three months as the muscle rests.

Will it change the shape of my face?+

It can, gently. As the masseter relaxes and reduces, a square or heavy jawline usually looks slimmer, which many people welcome. If you want relief from clenching without any change to the jawline, we tailor the amount and placement accordingly.

Do I still need a night guard?+

Often, yes. The injections reduce the force of clenching, but a guard protects the teeth from whatever grinding remains and is particularly important where enamel is already worn. We advise on this at the consultation, and a guard can be made from your scan on site.

Can worn teeth be repaired as well?+

Yes. Once the clenching is under control, shortened or chipped teeth can be rebuilt with bonding, veneers or crowns, planned by our tooth wear team. Treating the cause first means the repair lasts.