When you hear the word, ‘Botox’ you probably think that it is just a fancy treatment used to smooth out wrinkles on your forehead or around your eyes. While these are the most common uses for Botox, some highly skilled dentists also use it to treat dental health issues like TMJ and teeth grinding.

But what exactly is Botox and how does it work? This article will help you understand how dentists use Botox, and if injections are right for you.

How Botox Works

To understand dental Botox, you must first know how Botox is traditionally used. Botox is a trade name for botulinum toxin, a purified protein that is used to treat a number of dental issues, medical problems and cosmetic concerns. Botulinum toxin A is the form that is used most widely by doctors. When a skilled medical professional injects Botox into a patient’s facial muscles, the protein attaches to nerve endings; inhibiting nerve transmission there. This means that the injected muscles can’t contract, so the facial motions beneath the injection sites that may cause something like wrinkles will stop. It can take around three to ten days to notice smoother skin, but the effects of Botox treatments last much longer – three to four months, on average (depending on a variety of a person’s unique lifestyle factors and how much was injected).

So, is Botox safe?

Botulinum toxin A treatment has a superb safety record. Because Botox is a temporary treatment, once it wears off, it is gone completely. To ensure your Botox treatment is safe, always work with a medical professional who is trained in performing Botox injections. Doing so will provide you with the safest procedure possible, and peace of mind in knowing that your injections are botulinum toxin in its purest form.

Botox for Dental Problems & Health Issues

Botox is helpful in treating painful and frustrating dental problems like teeth grinding and even migraine headaches.

Dental Botox for Teeth Grinding & Clenching

Have you found yourself grinding or clenching your teeth at night? If so, your dentist has probably diagnosed you with bruxism, a condition where your jaw muscles “chew” without the presence of food. Because grinding and clenching your teeth can cause some serious damage to both your mouth and jaw, a skilled dentist may recommend tooth restoration options to fix your teeth. But while you may go with the procedure later on (which is usually the best long-term option) you can also get relief and stop further damage right away with dental Botox. Dental Botox treatments can actually rid you of your teeth grinding and clenching problem. This is because when Botox is injected into your jaw muscles, it relaxes them and reduces their powerful force.

Dental Botox Treatment for TMJ

Are you suffering from jaw pain? Then you may have a bad TMJ (temporomandibular joint).

When your body is stressed, it can cause pain and discomfort throughout your entire body – especially your head, face and neck. This is why we get headaches, sometimes! And if your stress is really bad, then you may even suffer from debilitating migraines. Because Botox is a muscle relaxer, it can also reduce muscle contractions that contribute to TMJ, preventing facial pain and headaches. Dental Botox can also block migraines from coming back for months at time.

Botox & Dermal Fillers in Cosmetic Dentistry

In addition to the health benefits that dental Botox can provide, your dentist may also perform Botox injections for certain cosmetic reasons. While Botox can certainly help fight forehead wrinkles and “crow’s feet,” pairing Botox injections with dermal fillers from your dentist will work to enhance your smile – giving your entire face a more youthful appearance.

Dermal fillers are used to gently treat laugh lines that form around your mouth. Unlike Botox, these fillers do not target muscles, but provide you with a natural “gel” that smooths your skin. This allows for full control of your smile! Filler treatments give the delicate skin around your mouth and your lips a natural fullness and can last quite a while. In fact, dermal fillers from your dentist may last approximately six months to one year depending on your request.