Overworked facial and jaw muscles can silently damage your teeth, joints, and smile. At Switch Dental in Lower Hutt, we offer precise Botox® injections — targeting the masseter muscle only — to manage:
- Bruxism (grinding) or clenching
- TMJ-related tension or discomfort
- Masseter hypertrophy (square jaw)
- Bite force overload and tooth wear
- (Occasionally) cosmetic smile refinement
We may use Xeomin®, a refined, clinically equivalent option to Botox®, depending on your needs and preferences. We’ll explain both during your consultation.
Muscles like the masseter are designed for strength—but overuse leads to:
- Tooth wear (like tyres spinning in place all night)
- Overloading of joints & ligaments → stiffness, clicks, and pain
- Reduced bite efficiency and altered chewing pattern
- Loss of VDO (vertical dimension of occlusion): flattened teeth and reduced facial height, making the lower face appear more collapsed or aged
- Enlarged masseter muscle: contributes to a squarer jawline, often perceived as bulky or tense
Botox® relaxes this single overactive muscle group, reducing destructive forces while preserving natural function.
- Consultation: We assess your bite, TMJ, and muscle activity.
- Treatment: Masseter Botox® is delivered with a very fine needle. We use EMLA® gel beforehand for comfort.
- Recovery: Most patients return to work straight after. Effects begin in 3–7 days and peak at 2 weeks.
- Results: Lasts 3–6 months. Repeat treatment is optional based on benefit and goals.
We’ll always discuss non-injectable alternatives too—like custom night guards—and may recommend posture or sleep habit changes.
A refined masseter can:
- Restore facial symmetry
- Reduce a square, tense jaw look
- Improve the smile line if muscles are pulling unevenly
- Reduce signs of premature ageing from VDO loss
We also offer Botox® for forehead, frown lines, and crow’s feet—with a natural look as our goal, not a frozen one.
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Why Choose Switch Dental?
Clinical Precision
Delivered only by trained dentists in a sterile, trusted dental setting
Muscle-Focused Dentistry
We understand the impact of parafunction and occlusal force
Gentle, Minimalist Aesthetic
No overcorrection, no upselling, just careful calibration
Holistic Evaluation
We look at your teeth, joints, muscles, and daily habits to decide what works best
