Botox® offers a way to transform your smile and get relief from certain facial and oral conditions that cause pain, discomfort, or distress. The revolutionary facial anti-aging injection is now used in dentistry. Our certified cosmetic dentist in St. Augustine, FL, can administer Botox® and Dermal Fillers at our office on the same day. The safe, non-surgical treatment can address a gummy smile, bruxism, facial muscle spasms, and temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ). As a complementary treatment, Botox® can also enhance the results of restorative treatments, including implants, veneers, and dentures.

What Is Botox®?

Botox®, also known as botulinum toxin, is the brand name for a drug made from a purified form of a toxin that comes from bacteria. The name of the bacteria is Bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The drug is available as an injection. It is used in a medical setting to reduce facial wrinkles and fine lines mainly on the forehead and around the corners of the eyes and lips.

How Botox® Works in Dentistry

The drug works by relaxing the muscles at the treatment site. Once injected, the toxin blocks nerve signals that make the muscle contract. The facial muscles relax, causing wrinkles and lines to soften out and preventing the formation of new ones. Additionally, muscle relaxation relieves strain on the temporomandibular joint and facial pain caused by involuntary teeth-grinding (Bruxism).

What are Dermal Fillers?

Dermal fillers are gel-like cosmetic treatments injected directly under the skin to plump up the face and smoothen lines and wrinkles. Common examples of dermal fillers used in non-surgical cosmetic procedures are hyaluronic acid and calcium hydroxylapatite.

Dentists use dermal fillers to smoothen out fine lines, wrinkles, and creases around the eyes, mouth, nose, and chin. This makes them appear less noticeable. Patients with uneven lips, a high lip line, or who require lip augmentation to complement dental procedures can also benefit from the treatment. Dermal fillers are injected within minutes. Results are typically noticeable right away, and can last months or years.

Together, Botox® and dermal fillers help to diminish lines and wrinkles and restore facial volume.

Botox® Treatment by a Dentist in St. Augustine, FL

Botox® treatment is quick, minimally invasive, and painless and can be done right at the dentist’s office. It is typically used as part of a comprehensive dental treatment plan. Here’s a general look at what a dental Botox® procedure entails.

Evaluation: Our St. Augustine FL Botox® dentist will consider your medical and dental history and current dental needs. Evaluation helps with deciding if these treatments are right for you. Patients who did not respond to mainstream medical treatments for teeth-grinding, TMJ, or face spasms may experience relief with Botox®. The dentist will also discuss treatment benefits and risks and how many rounds of Botox® are needed for optimum results.

Preparation: Some patients have a low pain threshold or dental anxiety. In such cases, the dentist will apply a topical numbing cream to the face before administering the Botox® injection.

Administering Botox® injection: Your dentist will gently massage your face to relax the muscles. They will then clean the face with a sterile cloth before injecting botulinum toxin directly into your facial tissues. The location of the injection will depend on the reason for receiving treatment. Finally, the dentist will gently rub the injection site to minimize bruising.

The treatment session can last 30–60 minutes. The facial area being treated and the severity of the condition will influence how long the treatment session takes.

Aftercare: Mild bruising or swelling is common at the injection site. We typically advise patients to avoid applying ice or cold compresses to the face following treatment to protect the results. Instead, gently massaging the face can help optimize the results.

Botox® and fillers can be injected on the same day to augment the results. According to Cleveland Clinic, patients can return to everyday activities immediately after treatment.

How Long Does Botox® Treatment Last?

The skin appears noticeably smoother within three to ten days after getting Botox®. Even though the treatment is not permanent, the therapeutic effects can last around three to four months. Follow-up procedures are needed to maintain long-lasting results.

Benefits of Dental Botox®

Botox® is approved by the U.S. Food and Drugs Administration (FDA). The dental application of Botox®, combined with dermal fillers, can provide extensive therapeutic relief for those affected by facial spasms, TMJ, and bruxism. All of these conditions involve involuntary contraction of the facial muscles.

Botox® relaxes the affected muscles and helps reduce or eliminate spasms, pain, headaches, or associated dental issues. When used as a complementary treatment with implants, veneers, or dentures, Botox® can create a more natural and youthful smile.

Schedule a Botox® Consultation Today

Our trained dentist in St. Augustine, FL continues to transform the smile and appearance of our patients with Botox® and Dermal Fillers. Call us or request an appointment online.