Therapeutic Uses for Botox from Your Nampa Dentist

While you might be surprised to find out that your local Nampa dentist performs Botox injections, the reality is that dentists are some of the most qualified people to administer these injections. Dentists spend years in dental school learning about the muscles and soft tissues in the neck, face and mouth.

Most people instinctively think of Hollywood celebrities looking to get rid of facial wrinkles when Botox is mentioned, but these injections actually have many therapeutic uses. Botox injections can be used to deal with health conditions like an overactive bladder, neck spasms, hyperhidrosis and lazy eye. Botox injections are also used to prevent migraines, and they have multiple therapeutic uses in dentistry.

What is Botox?

The toxin onobotolinumtoxinA is commonly found in Botox injections. It temporarily prevents muscles from moving. The toxin is created by a bacteria strain that causes food poisoning. Botox injections were the first drugs to use this toxin as an active ingredient. There are now a variety of toxins that can be used to make these injections. Each type of toxin has its own distinct properties.

The toxin works by blocking chemical signals that cause muscles to contract. That is why it is so effective when it comes to reducing the appearance of wrinkles since it relaxes the muscles that lead to wrinkles and keeps them that way for a period of time.

Uses of Botox in dentistry

A dentist might opt to use Botox injections to deal with dental issues like:

1. Temporomandibular joint disorders

The temporomandibular joints connect a person's jaw to the rest of the skull. These joints work whenever the jaw is used, and they can be damaged by a variety of dental issues. Temporomandibular joint disorders can lead to lots of discomfort, and they are one of the harder oral issues to rectify. Fortunately, a dentist can use Botox injections to relax the muscles around the joints, thus reducing their workload. It can be an effective way to provide relief for anyone who is dealing with severe TMJ-related issues.

2. Teeth grinding

Teeth grinding is an oral condition that can lead to some rather nasty symptoms like headaches, jaw pain and toothaches. Medically called bruxism, teeth grinding often occurs at night when the person is sleeping. Most people who grind their teeth do not realize it until a dentist notices their teeth are worn down or someone they share a room with complains about all the grinding sounds they make while sleeping.

The exact cause of a person's teeth grinding can be difficult to diagnose, but it is often linked to emotional issues. Botox injections can be used to relax muscles that are associated with teeth grinding to reduce the damage being done to the person's teeth.

Botox goes way beyond aesthetics

Anyone dealing with TMJ disorders or bruxism can benefit from Botox injections. Stop by our Nampa office to learn more about dental issues Botox can be used to treat.

Request an appointment here: https://www.nampaidahodentist.com or call Modern Smiles Nampa at (208) 656-6070 for an appointment in our Nampa office.

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