BOTOX®

Uptown Dental offers Botox treatments to help improve facial esthetics and help alleviate the symptoms of jaw clenching, excessive teeth grinding (bruxism), and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. Botox is a highly effective, safe, and virtually painless procedure.

What is Botox?

Botox is an FDA approved injectable purified protein which acts as a neuromodulator to relax the muscles of the face and jaw. When injected just beneath the skin, Botox attaches to nerve endings which control the muscles, temporarily blocking the ability of the muscles to contract. Because Botox only affects motor nerves, and not sensory nerves, patients do not lose any sensation in the treated area. Normal activities can be performed immediately after treatments.

What can Botox do for the jaw?

Chronic clenching of the jaw or grinding of the teeth, a condition known as Bruxism, can contribute to a variety of problems. It can cause pain and tension in the jaw muscles contributing to headaches, earaches, facial pain, clicking in the jaw joint, limited opening of the jaw, as well as damage to the teeth with excessive wear and fractures. Constant intermittent clenching can also lead to tooth and gum sensitivity.

When Botox is injected into the muscles around the forehead and face (temporalis and masseter muscles), the neuromodulator works to relax the muscles. This in turn, helps to release the tension in the jaw for pain relief from aches caused by chronic clenching. It can also help to smooth out the square jawline that can occur from hypertrophy (overuse) of the masseter muscles. Over time the master muscle will shrink in size and give the appearance of a slimmer face.

How can Botox improve esthetics?

Botox is extremely popular as a quick and efficient way to enjoy a more youthful appearance by minimizing wrinkles and fine lines of the face. Skin appears smoother and softer after injections, as the smaller muscles of the face relax. Crow’s feet, worry lines, and laugh lines can all be reduced. The procedure requires no anesthesia, and takes anywhere from a few days to a week to take full effect, and should last several months.

Treatments can be repeated, and research has suggested that long term use of the injections leads to a longer duration of each treatment’s effects.

Botox is also a very effective treatment for “gummy smiles”, or those with high lip lines where excessive gum tissue is exposed when smiling. Surgery used to be one of the only ways to treat high lip lines. Botox can now improve smiles in minutes for a fraction of the cost. The team at Uptown Dental can help our patients achieve simple cosmetic improvements and give them more confident smiles. Schedule a consultation soon!