Published 18 September 2026 · Updated 30 September 2026
A tight jaw, morning headaches, and a face that has squared off
Clenching and grinding overwork the masseter — the muscle that closes the jaw. Over years it thickens, which widens the lower face, and the same overuse wears enamel and drives temple headaches. Dentistry protects the teeth. Injections reduce the force of the clench. Both have a place, and neither replaces the other.
DHA-licensed doctors · Bluewaters Island 6, Dubai · daily 10:00–22:00
- Session
- 15–30 minutes
- Anaesthetic
- None or cooling
- Downtime
- Minimal
- Effect starts
- 3–10 days
- Price
- Per unit, after assessment
How people usually notice it
- Waking with a tired or aching jaw, or with a headache in the temples
- A partner reporting grinding sounds at night
- A dentist pointing out worn edges, cracks or sensitive teeth
- The lower face looking wider or squarer in photographs than it used to
- Clicking or discomfort in the joint in front of the ear
Night grinding and daytime clenching are separate habits and often come together. Stress and sleep quality drive both; misalignment of the bite, some medicines and sleep-disordered breathing contribute in a share of cases.
Start with a dentist, not with us, if teeth are involved. Worn enamel, cracks and sensitivity are dental problems, and a night guard is the standard protection for the teeth themselves. We are an aesthetic medicine clinic, not a dental practice. Where the joint itself is painful, locking or clicking persistently, that needs a specialist assessment. What we treat is the muscle force behind the habit, and the width of the lower face that follows from it.
What treatment of the masseter does
Botulinum toxin injected into the masseter reduces how hard the muscle can contract. Two things follow. The clenching force drops, which usually eases muscle-related jaw ache and tension headaches. And the muscle usually reduces in bulk over repeated treatments, which can narrow the lower third of the face — a change some patients come for directly.
The effect usually begins within about a week and builds over two to three weeks. It is temporary and the treatment is repeated on a schedule the doctor sets after seeing your response. Chewing tough food may feel less powerful during the first weeks, which is expected and settles.
It does not stop the habit. Stress, sleep and bite remain what they were, which is why treatment sits alongside dental protection rather than instead of it.
What it costs
Masseter treatment is a prescription injectable, dosed per side according to muscle size and the strength of the clench. It is therefore quoted per unit after assessment rather than as a package price. Unit prices are published on the price list, and the doctor gives you the total for your dose before anything is injected.
Prescription injectables are administered only after an in-person assessment by a licensed doctor. Prices checked 18 September 2026.
Facial slimming is a side of this, not a separate procedure. The narrowing of the lower face comes from the same dose reducing the same muscle. If your reason for coming is the shape rather than the symptoms, say so at the assessment — it changes where and how much is placed, and it also changes whether this is the right treatment at all. A wide lower face can come from bone structure, in which case no injection will alter it.
What helps alongside
- A night guard from a dentist, which protects enamel regardless of anything else
- Attention to sleep quality, and assessment for sleep-disordered breathing if snoring or daytime sleepiness is present
- Noticing daytime clenching — many people hold the jaw closed at a screen without registering it
- Avoiding chewing gum and hard foods during flare-ups
- Physiotherapy or a joint specialist where the joint itself, rather than the muscle, is the source of pain
Who this suits, and who should be assessed elsewhere first
Treatment suits you if
- Jaw tension and muscle-related headaches are the main complaint
- The masseter is visibly or palpably enlarged
- A dentist has already addressed protection of the teeth
- You accept a repeated, temporary treatment
See another specialist first if
- The joint locks, clicks painfully or limits how far you can open
- Teeth are chipped, worn or sensitive — that is dental work
- Pain is severe, one-sided or came on suddenly
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding
- You have a neuromuscular disorder
This list is not exhaustive. Medicines you take and previous reactions to injectable treatment change the plan and must be declared. Final suitability is determined by a licensed doctor at an in-person assessment.
Two questions decide the plan
Is the pain coming from the muscle or the joint, and is the priority comfort or facial shape? The examination answers both, including the cases where the honest answer is a dentist or a joint specialist rather than an injection.
Questions people ask
How much does masseter treatment cost in Dubai?
It is priced per unit, because the dose depends on the size of the muscle and how strongly you clench. Unit prices are on the clinic price list, and you are given the total for your assessed dose before treatment. Prescription injectables are not quoted as a fixed package over the phone.
Does it stop teeth grinding?
It reduces the force of the contraction rather than the habit. Many patients report less morning jaw ache and fewer tension headaches as a result. The grinding behaviour itself is driven by stress, sleep and bite, so a dental night guard remains the protection for the teeth.
Will my face get narrower?
If the width comes from an enlarged masseter, it usually narrows gradually over repeated treatments as the muscle reduces in bulk. If it comes from the jaw bone itself, no injection changes that. Which one applies to you is established by examination.
How long does it last?
The effect starts within about a week, peaks at two to three weeks and then fades gradually. The repeat interval is individual and is set by the doctor after your first treatment. With repeated sessions the muscle reduction tends to persist longer between visits.
Will I be able to chew normally?
Most patients eat normally. Some notice that very tough or chewy food feels harder work during the first weeks, particularly after a higher dose. That settles as the effect wears off and is one reason dosing starts conservatively.
Is jaw pain always bruxism?
No. Pain in front of the ear with clicking, locking or restricted opening points to the joint rather than the muscle, and that is assessed by a dental or maxillofacial specialist. Severe, sudden or one-sided pain needs prompt medical attention. Treating muscle force will not help a joint problem.
Do you make night guards?
No. Night guards are made by dentists, and we recommend having one where enamel is being worn. We work on the muscle side of the problem; the dental side belongs to a dental practice.
What are the side effects?
Tenderness or small bruises at the injection points, and occasionally a temporary change in the feel of chewing or a slight asymmetry in the smile if the effect spreads to neighbouring muscles. These usually resolve as the effect wears off. Rarer effects are explained and consented in person. Report increasing pain, spreading redness, fever, or any difficulty swallowing or breathing to the clinic immediately; outside our hours, go to the nearest emergency department or call 998.
Related reading
If the goal is a slimmer lower face rather than relief from clenching, see Masseter Botox in Dubai.
Medical disclaimer: this page is for information and does not replace a consultation. Worn or sensitive teeth are assessed by a dentist, and persistent joint pain, clicking or locking by a dental or maxillofacial specialist. Prescription treatments are administered only after an in-person assessment by a licensed doctor.
License statement: MEDYUMED MEDICAL CLINIC LLC operates under DHA License 6589480, Bluewaters Island 6, Dubai. Dental services, including night guards, are not provided at the clinic.
Individual results caveat: the degree of relief, the change in facial width and the interval between treatments vary from person to person. No result is guaranteed, and treatment does not remove the underlying habit.
Sources
- Injection zones, dosing approach and assessment: MED YU MED botulinum therapy service page, which lists masseter reduction among the treated areas.
- Unit prices: MED YU MED price list, checked 18 September 2026.
- Causes, dental protection and when to seek help: NHS, Teeth grinding (bruxism).
Less force in the clench, less ache in the morning
Assessment first, dose second, total before the needle. And a straight answer if the problem is the joint or the enamel, because those belong to other specialists.
MEDYUMED MEDICAL CLINIC LLC · DHA License 6589480 · open daily 10:00–22:00. Outside our hours, urgent problems go to the nearest emergency department or 998.
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