Botox For Teeth
If you have heard of botox, it is quite likely you know it is used in treating wrinkles on the skin that arise due to ageing
. Obtained from the Clostridium botulinum organism, botox is a toxin that acts by reducing the amount of movement a muscle is capable of; when the muscle does not move, the skin does not, either and this is why it does not wrinkle. Now, medical researchers have discovered yet another use for botox, so do not be surprised if your Vancouver dentist tells you he can use botox for teeth.
Botox for Bruxism
Of course, botox cannot do anything for your dental cavity or gingivitis but it is very helpful in people with the disorder called bruxism a condition in which there is too much grinding and clenching of the teeth. Most of us may clench or grind our teeth when we are angry or trying to control our emotions from spilling over. However, in some people, such clenching and grinding of teeth happens much more often, seemingly beyond their control, and often occurs during sleep. Such a person will suffer from pain in the jaws, headaches and pain in the ears; more importantly, the constant pressure on the teeth can cause them to chip, break or fracture. It is for such people with bruxism that botox has been found useful.
How Botox Works on Teeth
Many people with sleep bruxism use a night guard to protect their teeth from damage. Although this may serve its purpose, there are still the other problems the pain in the jaw and ears and the headaches about which nothing can be done. Using botox helps to greatly reduce the grinding and clenching action itself and therefore, is a more complete way of dealing with bruxism.
The masseter muscle is located in the jaw and this is responsible for the movements of opening and closing the mouth, clenching the teeth and chewing food. In people with bruxism, this muscle works overtime, and therefore, reducing its movements is key to controlling these movements. This, precisely, is what botox does.
When a Vancouver dentist injects botox into the masseter muscle, the muscle becomes weak and as a result, loses its ability to flex very strongly as in bruxism. However, this cannot interfere with the milder movements such as opening and closing the mouth or chewing food and therefore, does not cause any discomfort to the patient.
Botox is injected into about six different spots in each of the masseter muscles and the entire procedure takes just a few minute to complete. This can be done on an outpatient basis and you do not need hospitalization. Just like botox for cosmetic purposes, botox for teeth shows its effectiveness in a few days and patients with bruxism may need to have a repeat dose after a few months.
by: Clifton Jenkins
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