Smile Correction Devices: The Good, The Bad And The Amazing

You're thinking about having some cosmetic work done on your teeth to make you look younger. At the very least, you want to have whitening done because your teeth aren't as bright and sparkling as they were years ago. You may be surprised to learn that some dentists offer Botox injections for patients who want a rejuvenated facial appearance. Botox helps smooth facial wrinkles and is commonly used on the forehead, around the eyes and around the mouth.

Why Choose a Dentist for Botox Treatments?

Before they even complete training in providing Botox for cosmetic purposes, dentists have mastered relevant skills. They inject local anesthesia, such as Novocaine, and they have completed thorough coursework in head and facial anatomy.

Many dentists treat disorders such as temporomandibular joint disorder or compulsive teeth grinding with Botox injections. Also, since Botox relaxes muscles, the injections are helpful for decreasing stress placed on new dental implants. 

In addition, dentists take a keen interest in the appearance of their patient's smile and generally want to do whatever they can to improve the way each patient's teeth look. Those improvements are directly related to the attractiveness of the entire face. 

You might not realize that you already can have a licensed practitioner who is not a medical doctor perform Botox injections for cosmetic purposes. Depending on the state, physician assistants, registered nurses and even licensed practical nurses all can provide this treatment under supervision of a doctor.

Are There Restrictions?

State laws vary a great deal in regard to how dentists are allowed to use Botox. Some states have no regulations regarding dentists offering Botox cosmetic treatment. Others restrict the use to the area around the mouth, meaning you couldn't have injections to minimize lines in your forehead. Some states only allow oral and maxillofacial surgeons to offer Botox treatment. Some have laws stating that the Botox use by a dentist must be directly related to dental care. It would be ideal to check with your state to ensure that this is even a possibility for you.

Are You Interested?

If the idea of having a dentist administer Botox injections to improve your facial appearance intrigues you, check on your relevant state laws and call dental clinics in your area such as Clendenon Kirby DDS to ask whether they offer this service. If your state doesn't currently allow general or cosmetic dentists to offer Botox cosmetic treatment, it may only be a matter of time, since this is a growing trend. In the meantime, you can still get the improvements for your teeth to rejuvenate your smile.