BOTOX

A growing number of dentists are now providing botulinum toxin, otherwise known as BoNT-A (Botox®), treatment for their patients for both oral and maxillofacial cosmetic and therapeutic use. It has been estimated that up to 16% of North American dentists now use BoNT-A in their practices for cosmetic and therapeutic uses . While the use of BoNT-A for cosmetic purposes has gotten a lot of attention in a number of dental journal articles, BoNT-A products are excellent products to use for dental therapeutic uses in a number of areas.

BoNT-A works by inhibiting the release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction. Acetylcholine, as you well may remember, depolarizes the motor end plate of the muscle and will cause a muscle contraction. By inhibiting the release of acetylcholine, BoNT-A effectively will either reduce the intensity of the contraction of the muscle or will eliminate the contraction altogether, depending on the dosage used. Essentially, BoNT-A neurotoxin interrupts the contraction process of the muscles and causes a temporary muscle paralysis. This can last usually anywhere up to three months as the muscle initiates new acetylcholine receptors and the growth of branches from the neurons to form new synaptic contacts. Gradually the muscle returns to its full function and with no side effects whatsoever .

When you think about this clearly, and when one learns how to use BoNT-A neurotoxin properly, it can be used for a number of dental therapeutic procedures that can relieve pain and can retrain muscles which can certainly enhance dental treatment plans as well as help some serious disorders that have been frustrating to the dental practitioner for many years.