The Use of Therapeutic Botox in Dentistry

When you see the word Botox, the first thought is usually about smoothening out the wrinkles on your face. While the facial and skin care use of Botox is widely and commonly known, these days, Botox is also used for dentistry. Here at Dr. Parekh and Associates, we provide Therapeutic Botox services that can help you with certain dental problems.

Botox is a trade name for botulinum toxin, a prepared and purified protein that is used to treat several medical problems, cosmetic concerns, and dental issues. Dr. Justinus Kerner, a German Physician, first developed the idea of the possible use of botulinum toxin for therapeutic use. He inferred that the toxin inhibits signal transmission within the peripheral sympathetic nervous system, resulting in intact sensory transmission. Through research and experimentation, Botox is now used not just for facial concerns but can treat medical problems like eye muscle problems, wry neck, and muscle stiffness, as well as dental problems like TMJ and bruxism.

In dentistry, chemical denervation of the muscles using botox is useful in many dental conditions. According to the Healing Effect of Botox in a Dental Office, from the Journal of Oral Health and Community Dentistry, Botox can be used in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders, trismus or lockjaw, bruxism, hemifacial spasm, mandibular spasm, gummy smile, retraining muscles during orthodontic therapy, training patients for new dentures, hypersalivation or sialorrhea, and masseteric hypertrophy.

To learn more about the therapeutic use of Botox in dentistry, you can contact our dental team at Alliston. We are happy to help assist you with your dental needs!

-Dr. Parekh & Associates Team