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Botox and the Dentist: Really?

Botox injections are the best known among a group of drugs using various forms of botulinum toxin, a toxin that’s produced by the same microbe that causes botulism, a type of food poisoning. It’s used in treating all sorts of conditions in the medical field because of the temporary paralysis of muscle activity, making it very useful for cases such as cervical dystonia or repetitive neck spasms, excessive sweating, and overactive bladder. Though, there are also cases where Botox was used in treating crossed eyes, as well as chronic migraines. Most prominently, however, Botox is to help make people look younger by reducing the appearance of certain facial wrinkles.

Still, you’ll wonder, what does that have to do with Botox earning a place in dentistry? It’s not like teeth have wrinkles, right? Well, not exactly, but our jaws do have muscles and they’re prone to suffering from constant muscle spasms. Conditions such as bruxism, TMJ, and others involving facial pain have been proven to benefit from Botox injections, though not all dentists are aware of this.

Safe for treating conditions involving facial pain, Botox injections may also prove useful in many other dental cases. In orthodontics, the teeth of patients with strong mentalis muscles are prone reverting back to pre-therapy positions. Not only that, but local anesthesia, which is far more frequently used by dentists, is also a lot more dangerous and have greater potential for complications, as well as negative reactions compared to Botox or dermal fillers.

For more information about Botox, call Dr. Lee Cohen in Palm Beach Gardens, FL at (561) 621-3111 or visit www.pbcperio.com.

Dr. Cohen proudly accepts patients from Palm Beach Gardens and all surrounding areas.