What Is Botox?
In this video, Vahid Bashi, DDS, explains how our office utilizes Botox injections for both dental and cosmetic applications alike.
Botox is widely recognized for its ability to reduce facial wrinkles, but it also plays a significant role in dental health, particularly for individuals who clench and grind their teeth. Essentially, Botox works by relaxing muscles; in the context of facial aesthetics, it targets the muscles responsible for the formation of wrinkles on the skin’s surface. The skin is composed of multiple layers, with muscle lying at the deepest level. These muscles, when they contract frequently, pull on the skin and create wrinkles. By relaxing these muscles with Botox, the skin above becomes smoother as it regenerates, leading to a reduction in the appearance of wrinkles.
The skin regenerates approximately every two weeks, so new skin cells that develop over the relaxed muscles have fewer wrinkles, enhancing the skin’s overall appearance. Beyond cosmetic benefits, Botox offers therapeutic relief for those who suffer from bruxism, the medical term for teeth clenching and grinding. The same muscles used for chewing are involved in these actions. By administering Botox to these muscles, their activity is reduced, which can alleviate the associated symptoms such as tension headaches and prevent the dental damage caused by constant grinding.
In summary, Botox serves a dual purpose: aesthetically, by smoothing wrinkles for a more youthful appearance, and medically, by mitigating the effects of teeth clenching and grinding, offering relief from discomfort and preventing further dental issues.
