Why Should I See an Orthodontist for Botox?

It eventually happens to all of us — We look in the mirror before dashing out to meet our friends at a local restaurant and stop dead in our tracks when instead of seeing our image, it’s our mother staring back. 

While it’s true that a good life has a way of showing up on our faces, we don’t have to embrace it. Fortunately, while we’re visiting our orthodontist to tune up our smile, we can also rejuvenate our face with Botox®. In this blog, our own J. A. Duval, DDS, in Warner Robins and Albany, Georgia, explains the many uses of Botox and why orthodontists are suited to deliver treatment.

Botox explained

On April 15, 2002, the Food and Drug Administration approved Botox as a temporary cosmetic treatment for adults with moderate to severe frown lines. Since then, it has become the go-to for providers and patients alike.  

Botox is the most recognizable name in the cosmetic facial injectable market, and for good reason. In 2022 alone, more than 9.2 million people globally, including a whopping 3.9 million Americans, turned to Botox for a more youthful appearance.

When providers administer Botox, the active ingredient, Botulinum Toxin Type A, causes muscles to relax and blocks nerve impulses in the treatment area. This scenario creates the perfect storm for smoothing out facial wrinkles.

Reducing the appearance of wrinkles and more

The great thing about Botox is that it's an option for refreshing and rejuvenating your face, and its nerve-blocking abilities make it an ideal treatment for other conditions, such as bruxism or teeth grinding, chronic migraines, and TMJ disorders. 

At Duval Orthodontics, we believe that a perfect smile and facial refresh are a dynamic duo, but Botox allows us to do much more. Botox's ability to block nerve impulses helps patients with jaw pain resulting from bruxism or jaw clenching, which are triggers that cause headaches or migraines.

Botox works by targeting the jaw muscles with a treatment dosage that addresses grinding or clenching but is not enough to interfere with everyday functions. Patients can retain their natural expressions while ditching the pain.

Orthodontists are uniquely qualified for Botox

While dermatologists and plastic surgeons were the first healthcare providers to train and use Botox in their practices, orthodontists and dentists are uniquely qualified to inject Botox. Does that sound bold?

It all comes down to the fact that dentists and orthodontists are experts on the face from the chin to the forehead, also known as the oral and maxillofacial areas, which are coincidentally the focus areas for Botox.

In dental school, dentists and orthodontists receive extensive classroom and clinical training in facial anatomy, not just in the muscles of the face but also in the bone structure and nerves. But that’s not all. 

You’d be hard-pressed to find a healthcare provider as proficient at delivering injections as dentists and orthodontists. Every day, dental professionals inject dental anesthesia to numb their patients before procedures. They’ve got the technique down, and that skill serves them well in providing Botox injections. 

15 minutes away from a more youthful you

The typical Botox session is an in-office procedure that takes about 15 minutes. Your orthodontist begins the session by first icing down the target area so you only feel a quick pinch as your provider administers about three to five injections. Minimally invasive procedures have no incision or downtime; you can even do it during your lunch break.

Typically, patients see results within five to 10 days after treatment. Patients can expect results to last about three to six months, depending on the facial muscles that were treated. Botox is a temporary fix, so many patients schedule periodic sessions to refresh their look.  

If you are ready to rejuvenate your appearance and want to learn if Botox is right for you, schedule a consultation with Duval Orthodontics today by contacting the office most convenient to you or booking an appointment online.