Botox In Dentistry

You may have heard the term ‘Botox’ quite often in the cosmetic enhancement industry. But does it have anything to do with dentistry too?

Botox has a complete array of uses in dentistry that include both aesthetic improvement and enhancement of function.

So let us dive right in to understand how Botox is used in dentistry and how safe is the procedure.

What Is Botox?

Botox is a protein that is derived from Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium that thrives in various natural substances. The bacteria is known to release botulinum toxins that affect the nervous system. One of these toxins is separated from the bacteria and put through a purification process in a lab so that it is safe for use and delivers only positive effects.

How Does Botox Function?

Botox is injected by an expert into the muscles present in various parts of the body. It goes and fixes itself around the fine ends of the nerves that regulate muscle function.

For the next few weeks, the drug will not allow the muscle to contract by blocking the passage of nerve signals. Due to this action, the injected muscle will not contract and the person will stop experiencing signs and symptoms for a temporary period. As the drug wears off, another dose will be needed to prevent the symptoms from showing up again.

How is Botox Useful in Dentistry?

Owing to extensive research in this field, the scope of Botox has widened in dentistry. Due to its power to relax the muscles for a short time, it can be used to treat several oral problems including cosmetic enhancement like facial rejuvenation. It may take about 3 to 8 days for you to notice the change around the injection site.

Here are a few of the most common uses of Botox in dentistry:

1. Management of TMJ Problems:

The temporomandibular joint also called TMJ, can be affected due to various reasons, clenching and grinding of teeth being one of them.

Grinding or clenching one’s teeth unknowingly is called bruxism. When a person grinds his teeth, he is putting his teeth and the neighboring supporting tissues under undue chewing forces. Grinding could be a result of underlying psychological stress. Finding out the reason helps in treating the condition.

Though mouthguards are effective in managing the habit of bruxism, they alone may not be sufficient to reverse the damage done to the TMJ and muscles responsible for chewing.

The person may find it difficult to carry out jaw movements like those involved during talking or chewing food.

This is when Botox comes in handy! It smoothens the TMJ function by relaxing the chewing muscles and providing tremendous relief from soreness.

2. Treatment of Sialorrhea/Excess Production of Saliva:

Sialorrhea is a condition when there is excess salivation and the person is unable to hold the saliva or swallow it. This condition is seen in those who have cerebral palsy or Parkinson’s disease.

There are medicines to treat sialorrhea but they may have unwanted side effects like tiredness, drowsiness, or constipation.

With the help of Botox injections in the salivary glands, the production of saliva can be reduced to almost the normal level.

3. Gummy Smile Due to High Lips:

A vast majority of people with gummy smiles find it bothering and are always on the lookout for options to fix their smile due to aesthetic concerns.

One of the reasons for a gummy smile is the high position of the lip. Before the advent of botox, surgical correction would have been the only method of resolving the issue of a high lip line.

With the help of botox, high smile lines can be fixed in a much more cost-effective manner as compared to surgical correction.

4. Alleviate Discomfort Caused by New Dentures:

New dentures are always compared to a new pair of shoes as both of them are a source of pain and discomfort for the first few days until one gets used to them.

Our mouth is lined with soft tissues that are accustomed to gradual changes. A new denture acts like a swift and sudden change that may become quite overwhelming for our oral tissues. For most of the denture-wearers, getting used to a new appliance may be a piece of cake.

Yet, there are some who need help to overcome facial pain and discomfort. Botox is of immense help in relaxing the concerned muscles and providing pain relief.

5. Cosmetic Improvement of Your Smile:

You must be familiar with the cosmetic applications of botox as in the removal of wrinkles on the forehead or managing Crow’s feet (lines fanning out from the corners of the eyes).

Botox can be used as a great tool in reshaping your smile. When used in conjunction with dermal fillers, botox can help smoothen laugh lines, provide lip fullness and give you a more youthful look!

Is it Safe To Get Botox From My Dentist?

Yes.

Dental boards in different countries have permitted dentists to perform botox once they complete an intensive training session on the proper administration of botox.

The board-certified dentists are professionally trained in various aspects of the anatomy of the face and surrounding organs. With an additional course on botox, they become well-equipped to deal with botox treatments safely and effectively.

Are there any side effects of Botox?

Botox is always injected into a muscle and it remains there until it wears off.

If there is an accidental spread of botox into the circulation, the toxin may cause a couple of side effects like muscle weakness, difficulty in breathing, problems while swallowing, and urinary incontinence.

Repeated administration of botox or use of high doses can lead to the development of resistance to botox.

The Final Note

Botox is a remarkable addition to the realm of dentistry and can be utilized for the therapeutic management of several medical conditions.

Botox and dermal fillers can be employed in facial rejuvenation techniques and esthetic enhancement. They can be used to get dramatically improved results in a fraction of the time.

For Botox-related procedures, you should approach only a certified dental professional who is qualified to administer Botox.

References

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Srivastava, S., Kharbanda, S., Pal, U. S., & Shah, V. (2015). Applications of botulinum toxin in dentistry: A comprehensive review. National journal of maxillofacial surgery, 6(2), 152–159. https://doi.org/10.4103/0975-5950.183860
Hoque, Afreen & Mcandrew, Maureen. (2009). Use of botulinum toxin in dentistry. The New York state dental journal. 75. 52-5.
Pedron, I. G., & Mangano, A. (2018). Gummy Smile Correction Using Botulinum Toxin With Respective Gingival Surgery. Journal of dentistry (Shiraz, Iran), 19(3), 248–252.
Nayyar, P., Kumar, P., Nayyar, P. V., & Singh, A. (2014). BOTOX: Broadening the Horizon of Dentistry. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR, 8(12), ZE25–ZE29. https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2014/11624.5341
Frampton, J. E., & Easthope, S. E. (2003). Botulinum toxin A (Botox Cosmetic): a review of its use in the treatment of glabellar frown lines. American journal of clinical dermatology, 4(10), 709–725. https://doi.org/10.2165/00128071-200304100-00005