Botox Treatment in Dentistry and Orthodontics

When you hear Botox, you most likely think of the many esthetic purposes people use it for. What goes unknown to a lot of people is that it offers a variety of other benefits, especially in the field of Dentistry. Dentists are ideal doctors to deliver Botox because of the training they get with facial anatomy, structure, nerves, and muscles.  It makes sense that they would be the field to administer Botox for pain treatment or esthetics.

Botox has shown the ability to greatly reduce pain by relaxing the muscles. It was first approved by the FDA in 1989 for the treatment of strabismus and blepharospasm in adults, and later on Botox was approved for cosmetic purposes such as smoothing wrinkles and treating forehead asymmetry.

What do we use Botox Treatment for?

Botox has shown to be effective for a variety of purposes. In the world of Dentistry and Orthodontics, we primarily use it for pain management. Botox can treat pain that originates from muscles and it is beneficial in finding the source of your pain. Botox was approved for treatment of chronic migraines in 2010 and is also used to reduce teeth clenching and grinding, allowing you to avoid wearing splints. We also use it for a variety of other dental applications such as:

• Pursed or puckered lips
• Upside-down smiles
• Overly recessive lips
• Blepharospasms
• Cervical Dystonia
• Other headache pains due to muscle tension
• And more

How Does a Botox Treatment Work?

Botox is a safe treatment and it helps relieve pain and reduces wrinkles by blocking nerve activity and it causes your muscles to relax. If we administer Botox in higher doses, it can completely inactivate the muscles. It acts only on nerve endings by blocking the signal for muscle movement.

Your Botox treatment will last 3-4 months and after that your muscles will begin to resume their usual activity. Your activity level and your biochemistry determine how quickly activity returns. The treatment its will take roughly 15 to 20 minutes. Discussing what you want to accomplish with your Botox treatment will take 10 to 15 minutes and 5 minutes to administer the Botox. For the best results we recommend to get treatment every 4 to 6 months.

Side-Effects of Botox

The side-effects that come with a Botox treatment are relatively small. Roughly 3% of patients will experience eyelid drooping and 1% will experience eyelid swelling. Some of the other side-effects may consist of dry-mouth, discomfort or pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, neck pain, double vision, blurred vision, and possible allergic reactions. There are more side-effects, but you will discuss those with your dentist or orthodontist before your Botox treatment.

Botox Treatment with Bauer Smiles in Wheaton

If you are experiencing the symptoms previously described or are interested in seeing what a Botox treatment can do for you, call today at 630-665-5550.

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