Botox®

Dental procedures using Botox are minimally invasive and have gained considerable popularity over the past decade. Botox's known applications continue to expand, as Dentists use Botox to treat dental conditions like High Lip Lines, Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ), Bruxism, and Dentures that no longer fit due to shifting jaw muscles.

Doctors can utilize Botox medically to treat certain conditions like TMJ and migraine headaches, and also cosmetically to remove and prevent wrinkles. Dr. Cruz-Davis is certified and experienced at administering Botox for both medical and esthetic purposes.

What is Botox?

Botox is a manufactured drug derived from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. While the same bacterium causes botulism, the active, therapeutic neurotoxin in Botox is harvested and separated before being purified in a lab, making the substance safe and effective for human treatment when administered properly by a trained physician or other trusted health provider.

How Does Botox Work?

Botox attaches to the endings of the nerves that control the injected muscle. The transformation begins within only a few hours of being injected. Over the next several days, the drug starts to block the transmission of nerve signals that cause muscle contractions, and continues to block these nerve signals for three to four months. Botox only affects the nerves connected to motor neurons, without affecting those connected to sensory neurons — the receptors for feeling pain and temperature. As the Botox wears off, so does the muscle paralyses, resulting in the return of the patient's symptoms, at which point another dose of Botox can be administered.

How is Botox used in Dentistry?

As the use of Botox in dentistry continues to gain popularity, scientists conduct more research to investigate its uses. Some of the common uses of Botox include to correct parafunctional clenching, for extracapsular myogenic temporomandibular disorder, trismus, and to treat headaches that are symptomatic of these conditions.

More than just a stand-alone procedure, Botox can be used in a dental office as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. The dental professional should have received appropriate education, training and certification prior to administering Botox.