BOTOX TREATMENT
Botox injections are a well-known solution for cosmetic needs, but can also be an option for the treatment of certain orofacial conditions. There are many benefits to the use of Botox in dentistry, but also risks, that should be discussed with patients prior to them deciding to embark on Botox treatment.
Botox is one of the botulinum toxin drugs derived from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. This bacterium may sound a little familiar since it is the same one that causes botulism, a rare but dangerous food-borne illness. The active, therapeutic neurotoxin is harvested, separated and purified in a lab to make it safe and effective for treatment.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Within a few hours of Botox being injected into a muscle, it attaches to the endings of the nerves that control the muscle. Over the next several days, the toxin works to block the transmission of nerve signals that cause muscle contractions. Botox only affects the nerves connected to motor neurons, without affecting the nerves connected to sensory neurons — the receptors you need to feel pain, touch and temperature, according to Khan Academy. Botox continues to block the nerve signals for three to four months. As the Botox wears off, the patient’s signs and symptoms will return. Another dose can be administered, if desired.