Botox® and Dermal Fillers

What is Botox®?

Botox (botulinum toxin) is a manufactured injectable medication used therapeutically to reduce the strength of targeted muscle tissues. It is an inhibitor of the neuromuscular activity and it blocks the communication between the nerve fiber and the muscle preventing contraction.

Botox works by reducing the muscle’s ability to contract temporarily, which causes the overlying wrinkles in the skin to disappear. Depending on each individual case, the results can last between three and six months. Once the Botox begins to wear off, the skin will return to the way it looked before treatment.  Botox treatments are quick and comfortable and within days, although it may take as long as two weeks, you will begin to notice a difference in the way your skin looks and feels.

Therapeutic Treatment of Bruxism (Grinding/Clenching)

Most people are familiar with Botox as a cosmetic treatment used to improve or eliminate wrinkles, but patients who have a habit of grinding or clenching their teeth can also benefit from Botox treatment. When Botox is administered to certain muscle groups these problems can be decreased or eliminated by limiting the amount of force the muscles can produce.

What are Dermal Fillers?

Dermal fillers are an increasingly popular means to help reverse the changes associated with aging. Our filler is made with hyaluronic acid, which exists naturally in all living organisms. As our skin ages, the dermis gradually loses its major constituents. Collagen acts as the major support protein for our skin, elastin allows our skin to stay firm and resist wrinkle, and hyaluronic acid helps to trap water and add volume and shape to our skin. When fillers are injected they can restore or add volume, provide wrinkle reduction, and allow facial sculpting. Dermal fillers are expertly used to enhance the smile by increasing fullness of the lips and lessen the downward slant of the corner of the lips.

Why Should I See a Cosmetic Dentist for Botox® and Dermal Filler Treatments?

Having Botox injections performed at our office offers several advantages. Dr. Gagnon has advanced training in facial and dental esthetic treatments. Both facial and dental esthetics are considered when addressing proper smile and lip lines.  One of the greatest advantages of coming to our office for Botox and dermal fillers involves her ability to numb the area around the mouth for a painless procedure.

There are two types of wrinkles, dynamic wrinkles and static wrinkles. Dynamic wrinkles are a result of contraction of the underlying muscles over time. Botox is used to smooth these wrinkles by calming down the muscles.  Static wrinkles are not related to the underlying muscle.  Over time, they arise from loss of volume in the tissue below the skin and are very effectively and safely treated using dermal fillers. Nasiolabial folds (the wrinkle lines that connect the side of your nose to the corner of your mouth) and ‘marionette lines’ (the wrinkle lines extending downward from the corners of your mouth to around your chin) are the most commonly treated.

Taking all the aspects of smile design into consideration with her knowledge of cosmetic dentistry and proper smile and lip lines, Dr. Gagnon can artistically create for you the smile you have always desired.

Am I a good candidate for Botox®?

Botox has become a superb option for the patient that is hesitant to undergo surgery, yet is concerned with deep creases and furrows of the face. By relaxing the muscles that cause you to wrinkle, you can rid yourself of the heavy-tension look or remove a misrepresented, tired and angry facial appearance. If you have been diagnosed or experience discomfort with temporomandibular disorder or you desire a slight improvement in your look or a “cleaning up” of age wrinkles, Botox may be for you.