Botox and Dermal Fillers
What Is BOTOX?
Botox (formally called Botulinum Toxin) is an extremely popular method for obtaining a more youthful, rested appearance. Botox is an FDA-approved treatment which can cause facial expression lines or wrinkles to essentially disappear. Areas most frequently treated are the glabellar area of frown lines (located between the eyes), crow's feet (lateral areas of the eyes), and forehead wrinkles. Botox is diluted to a very controlled solution and, when injected into the muscles with a very thin needle, is almost painless. Botox injections produce a more youthful appearance by softening deep wrinkles.
What does treatment involve?
Treatment involves injecting small amounts of Botox into the tiny muscles responsible for the movements that create the lines and wrinkles. This relaxes the muscle, reducing the lines and wrinkles and producing smoother skin in the treated areas. The most common treatment areas include:
· Vertical lines between the eyes
· Forehead wrinkles
· Crow's feet
What Can I Expect During the Procedure?
Patients may feel a slight burning sensation while the solution is being injected. The procedure takes about 15-20 minutes and the results last 3-5 months. With repeated treatments, the results may last longer. It requires a short appointment and is appropriate for anyone (male and female) ages 18-65 meeting the clinical criteria for therapeutic or cosmetic use.
How is Botox used in Dentistry?
Botox has important clinical uses as an adjunct in TMJ and bruxism cases, and for patients with chronic TMJ and facial pain. Botox is also used to complement esthetic dentistry cases, as a minimally invasive alternative to surgically treating high lip line cases, denture patients who have trouble adjusting to new dentures, lip augmentation, and has used in orthodontic cases where retraining of the facial muscles is necessary.
Can A Dentist Inject Botox?
YES - most dentists already have experience administering anesthetic injections in the same areas where Botox and dermal fillers are injected for cosmetic results. The only difference is that you inject intraorally into these facial structures while Botox and dermal fillers injections are extraoral injections. Dentists inject anesthetic for a living and know how to make these injections comfortable, quick, and relatively painless for their patients.
Dentists receive training in dental school on the facial anatomy, physiology, skeletal structures, the vascular and nervous system of the face, and overall facial esthetics involved with this type of procedure.
Dentists are also keenly aware of the proper ratios of lips to teeth, the proper amount of teeth that should be visible in a full or partial smile, and how the teeth relate to the soft tissue surrounding the mouth.
While both Botox and dermal fillers are exciting additions to our services for patients, they are serious procedures which involve some risk and not every patient is an appropriate candidate.
