Please activate JavaScript!
Please install Adobe Flash Player, click here for download

Dental Tribune U.S. Edition

XXXXX Dental Tribune U.S. Edition | March 2012A6 eration to extending the oral-systemic connection to the esthetic realms and facial pain areas of the face, which den- tists are more familiar with than any other health-care practitioner. The art and science of facial injectables Botox is a trade name for botulinum toxin, which comes in the form of a purified protein. The mechanism of action for Botox is really quite simple. Botox is injected into the facial mus- cles but really doesn’t affect the mus- cle at all. Botulinum toxin affects and blocks the transmitters between the motor nerves that innervate the mus- cle. There is no loss of sensory feeling in the muscles. Once the motor nerve endings are interrupted, the muscle cannot contract. When that muscle does not contract, the dynamic motion that causes wrinkles in the skin will stop. The skin then starts to smooth out, and in approximately three to 10 days after treatment, the skin above those muscles becomes nice and smooth. The effects of Botox last for approximately three to four months, at which time the patient needs re- treatment. The areas that Botox is commonly used for smoothing of facial wrinkles are the forehead, between the eyes (glabellar region) and around the lips. Botox has been FDA approved as a pri- mary therapy for chronic migraine and facial pain cases and has impor- tant clinical uses in TMJ and bruxism cases, and especially for patients with chronic TMJ and facial pain. Botox is also used to complement esthetic dentistry as a minimally in- vasive alternative to surgically treat- ing high lip line cases; to help denture patients who have trouble adjusting to new dentures; to provide lip aug- mentations; and to help retrain facial muscles when necessary in orthodon- tic cases. No other health-care provider has the capability to help patients in so many areas as do dentists. Dermal fillers, such as hyaluronic ac- ids (Juvederm, Restylane) and calcium hydroxylapatite fillers (Radiesse), are commonly used to add volume to the face in the nasolabial folds, oral com- missures, lips and marionette lines. As we age, collagen is lost in these facial areas and these lines start to deepen. These dermal fillers are injected right under the skin to plump up these ar- eas so that these lines are much less noticeable. Dermal fillers are also used for lip augmentation and are used by dentists for high lip line cases, uneven lips, and to make the peri-oral area more es- thetic. The face looks more youthful and is an essential component to every esthetic dentistry case that you do. I have been trained and have had ex- perience with these Botox and dermal fillers for a while, and these are very easy procedures to accomplish. We as dentists give injections all the time — this is just learning how to give anoth- er kind of injection that is outside the mouth but is in the same area of the face that we inject all the time. We also have a distinct advantage over dermatologists, plastic surgeons, medical estheticians and nurses who commonly provide these procedures in that we can deliver profound an- esthesia in these areas before accom- plishing these filler procedures. I will never forget that during my training, my patients were completely com- fortable during dermal filler and lip augmentation therapy because of my ability to deliver proper anesthesia to these areas. The patients treated by other health practitioners were quite uncomfortable and indeed this is one of the biggest patient complaints about dermal fillers. Most state boards now allow gen- eral dentists to provide Botox and der- mal fillers to patients for both dental esthetic and therapeutic uses. Why wouldn’t you provide these services, you already offer whitening and es- thetic dentistry to your patients? I would make the strong argument that dentists are the true specialists of the face, much more so than most other health-care professionals, including dermatologists and plastic surgeons. It is time to stand up for what we know and what we can accomplish. Is there a market for these services? In 2011, close to $5 billion dollars were spent on botulinum toxin and der- mal filler therapy in the United States. Think about this — that was money spent on non-surgical elective esthetic procedures that could have been spent on esthetic dentistry, but the patient made a choice. Interestingly, these pro- cedures become more popular in an uncertain economy because patients want to do something to look better that is more affordable than surgical esthetic options. How to get started Like anything else a dentist does, this requires comprehensive practical training. The learning curve is short for dentists because you already know how to give comfortable injections. The American Academy of Facial Es- thetics (www.FacialEsthetics.org), with more than 50 local courses a year, has trained more than 6,000 dental profes- sionals from 48 states and 28 countries through comprehensive hands-on live patient two-day facial esthetic training sessions with Botox and dermal fillers. Finding practice models is easy — start asking family and friends who will fight to have you practice on them. If you want further proof, ask women in your practice if they have had or would like Botox or dermal filler ther- apy. You will be overwhelmed at the positive response and shocked at the number of people you know already re- ceiving these treatments. Most dental liability insurers now cover the use of Botox and dermal fill- ers in their existing policy or with a reasonably priced rider. The hottest topic in dentistry right now that will influence dentistry for the rest of your career is the integra- tion of Botox and dermal fillers into surgical, restorative, prosthodontic, periodontic, orthodontic and esthetic dental treatment plans. This opens up well proven treatment options that we legally, morally and ethically have to offer patients. Get trained today and join the thousands of members of the American Academy of Facial Esthetics. It is a perfect complement to your daily dental practice. “ BOTOX, page A5 Fig. 3 An obliterated interproximal papilla because of implant surgery Fig. 4 Innovative use of a dermal filler used intra-orally to eliminate the black triangle in a five-minute appointment Fig. 5 Facial wrinkles, deep nasolabial folds and gummy smile are the patient’s chief complaints Fig. 6 A 15-minute appointment using Botox and dermal fillers achieves excellent dental esthetics. CLINICAL