Written by DTC Miami
Many different dental problems can be solved or treated with botox. Botox is commonly used in the field of aesthetics and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures. It has not been very common in the field of dentistry and its uses may surprise you. Introducing Botox in your practice is just another advancement in the dental field. Using Botox to aid your patients in dental treatment or solutions affects the standard of treatment. Dentistry is transforming to further improve standards of patient care. According to Dentistryiq, “Dentistry is constantly evolving to address both cosmetic and functional issues. These advancements expand our scope of practice, improve the quality of care we’re able to offer, and improve our patients’ quality of life.”(1).
A Short History of Botox
Scientific name: Botulinum toxin
At first, it was developed in 1977 to treat problems with the eye muscles. Now, it is commonly used in cosmetics to provide aesthetic solutions.
According to the American Academy of Facial Aesthetics, botox can be used to help treat temporomandibular joint disorder (tmd), bruxism, orthodontic therapy and removable prosthodontics (2). Bruxism or teeth grinding can be treated using botox to relax the muscles in the face, especially, when other forms of treatment are not effective. Many scientific studies have demonstrated the benefits of botox to treat certain dental health issues. In a study, “Botox Therapy in Dentistry: A Review,” published in the Journal of International Oral Health, the conclusion of the study was, “Chemodenervation using botulinum toxin is useful in many of the conditions of dentistry. The controlled use of this therapy is more important rather than its radical use.”(3). The successes of ‘dental’ botox can be plenty, but it is important to understand in when and how botox can be applied on a patient.
Figure: Before and after photos illustrate how targeted treatment using botulinum toxin can help to eliminate the appearance of a gummy smile.
Source: Shaw Blessing, Tracy, DMD. 2017 Dentistryiq