How Botox is Used in Dentistry
Can all dentists provide Botox treatments, and is it safe to receive Botox from a dental professional?
Yes, if they are certified and properly trained.
Is Botox 100% safe?
No. As with any medical or dental procedure in the healthcare field, there's always a risk. Just remember that nothing is 100% safe in dentistry.
What is Botox used for in dentistry?
For our field, if you're doing pure dentistry, the main things you can address are jaw joint issues where your muscles get really tense or grinding issues. The dentist can inject the muscles involved with the temporomandibular joint, which is your jaw joint.
If you have a neuromuscular origin or a cause for your jaw joint issues, meaning that if the cause of discomfort or pain is due to muscles in your jaw or around the jaw or the mouth, supporting or involving your jaw, then Botox can be used to relax those muscles and help improve the pain and discomfort and sometimes improve grinding. The effects usually take about anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of weeks.
In some cases, you can use Botox to take care of gummy smiles. In other cases, to create balance for your smile lines or your smile aesthetics. That could be one reason.
What sort of training does a dentist have to have to administer Botox treatments?
We are required to have special training and special certifications to administer it. When you get Botox in a dental practice in California, it is basically geared towards your jaw joint. In a dermatologist's office or spa, it's really geared towards taking care of your lines. Basically, cosmetics.
Dentists in California are not allowed to administer Botox for facial cosmetics like this. It has to be directly related to dental causes such as the jaw joint. It's really the jaw joint that you're putting Botox in there for most dentists in California, general dentist.
How long does Botox last?
If you get Botox, it's usually about three or four months of relief from the Botox. That's how long it usually lasts. Everyone's different, so it could be shorter or longer in your particular case because everyone responds differently to different types of medical and dental treatment.
What is the process for Botox procedures?
You would come in for a consultation, have the procedure done, with fine needles placed where you need to have the Botox, and then you're sent home with home care instructions. Botox can be used in conjunction with ortho braces or bite adjustments.
At Virginia H. Ellis, DDS Dental Corp., you come first. Whether you need dental care or simply have questions, call us at (925) 272-2698 or email [email protected] to schedule your visit. Our team is here to help you every step of the way.