By: Dr Abhishek Pandey, Asstt. Editor-ICN
LUCKNOW: A beautiful smile requires more than just beautiful teeth. Cosmetic procedures are becoming popular in modern times. Aesthetics and harmony of the face correlate directly with the smile and is formed by the union of three components- the teeth, the gums and lips. As a dentist, we are bound to offer smile makeovers for our patients, enabling them to enjoy improved self confidence.
As people are becoming more aesthetically conscious, the application of agents like Botulinum toxin, commonly known as Botox, is increasing. There are 7 types of Botulinum toxin, namely Types A,B,C,D,E,F and G. Botox is produced by Clostridium botulinum, a gram negative bacterium.
APPLICATIONS-
Gummy smile- It refers to a smile that displays an excessive amount of the upper gum. Excessive gum exposure can be frequently attributable to over contraction of the upper lip muscles. Injection of botulinum toxin bilaterally into the muscles of the upper lip will help to reduce the over contraction of the upper lip muscles while smiling.
Bruxism and TMJ Disorders– Bruxism or teeth grinding causes excessive wear and tear of the teeth. This can also cause discomfort in the temporomandibular joints and masticatory muscles along with associated headache. Injection of BTX into the muscles of mastication such as masseter and temporalis can alleviate the symptoms associated with it. Chronic bruxism causes hypertrophy of masseter muscle. This can give the swollen look of the face. Injection of BTX into the masseter muscle can reduce swelling.
Mandibular muscle spasms– When the jaw closing musculature remains semi contracted or in spasms, there will be a reduced mouth opening. A muscle relaxation techniques will help to restore the patients mouth opening significantly.
Dental Implantology- Dental implant takes 3-4 months to completely osseintegrate with the bone. Overloading of the muscles of mastication can impede osseointegration of dental implants. The muscle relaxation achieved with a BTX injection to the masticatory muscles can be beneficial, as it can help ease the load of mastication and enable the implant to heal efficiently.
CONTRAINDICATIONS-
Those afflicted with neuromuscular disorders like Myasthenia gravis.
- People allergic to Botox or its serotypes.
- Pregnant or lactating women.
- Those who take concomitant interactive medications.
Botox is an excellent therapeutic agent offering a minimally invasive approach for cosmetic correction and functional intervention. However, all dentists must ensure that the treatment is within their scope of practice and have received appropriate training not just to administer BTX but to deal with its potential adverse effects also.
