CTW MAGAZINE MAY 2014 MAY 2014 CTWMAG.COM22 | | 23

WOMEN AND MEN ACROSS

THE COUNTRY ARE TURNING

TO BOTOX INJECTIONS

TO HELP THEM LOOK AND

FEEL BETTER.

THE MANY FACES OF

BOTOX by Dr. Sid Solomon

W H AT I S B O T O X ?Botox is derived from a type of bac-teria (Clostridium botulinum) known to produce a protein (known as botulinum toxin) that acts as a neu-romuscular inhibitor in humans. In other words, Botox is a substance that, in small doses, can prevent the movement of the bodily muscles it is injected into.

The steps are very simple:

1. Botox is injected into the muscle.

2. The active ingredient in Botox blocks the signals sent from the nerve ending to the muscles.

3. This block prevents muscle fibers from contracting.

Botox treatment generally takes only minutes, is non-invasive, and requires no downtime at all. Once injected, it requires four to six days for the results to be visible. Depending on the patient, Botox results can last from three to four months.

C O S M E T I C U S E SJust a few years after FDA approval in April, 2002, Botox became one of the most commonly requested non-surgical procedures.

Botox is commonly used for skin rejuvenation and wrinkle correction. When properly injected, Botox can make certain facial lines disappear, rendering a more youthful appear-ance for patients.

As human beings, we naturally exag-gerate our facial muscles numerous times throughout the day. For exam-ple, we stress the muscles controlling our forehead when we’re surprised, the muscles between our eyebrows when we’re in the sun or when we frown. Over time, repeated use of these muscles leads to lines and wrinkles which become more visible as we age.

Botox can remove these lines, help-ing a patient shed years from their face. There is nothing wrong with aging gracefully and having a few wrinkles and folds here and there to show for it. But when you have that urge for a more youthful appear-ance, Botox, if applied properly and

in moderation, can render subtle, yet remarkable results.

Common aging issues Botox addresses:

•Frown lines (glabellar lines between the eyebrows).

•Crow’s feet around the eyes (lateral canthal wrinkles) .

•Forehead lines.•Neck wrinkles.•Upper-lip lines and wrinkles.•Chin dimples. •Enlarged masseter muscle

(chewing muscle—moves the lower jaw).

•Uneven facial anatomy.

T H E R A P E U T I C U S E SMost people think of Botox for wrin-kles; few are aware of its therapeutic uses. Botulinum toxin A (Botox) was first used to treat involuntary muscle tension and spasms. Over the years, the medical community realized Botox can often improve many disor-ders and systemic problems.

While Botox can help treat multiple issues, as a neuromuscular dentist I have been privileged to use Botox to relieve various face, head and neck issues. It may seem odd to want to consciously prevent a muscle in our body from working, but many bodily issues cause muscles to be overactive. Botox is a magnificent therapeutic agent to help relax those muscles.

G R I N D I N G T E E T H AT N I G H TBotox is promising in assisting patients with mild to severe brux-ism—one of the most common symp-toms of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ or TMD), a condition characterized by clenching or grind-ing the teeth unconsciously.

Bruxism disrupts sleep and results in worn teeth, recession and even tooth chipping or cracking. Grinding and grinding at night also causes pain in the facial and jaw joint.

Properly injected, Botox weakens the masticatory muscles just enough to reduce grinding, while allowing the patient to chew, talk and smile nor-mally. While a custom neuromuscular

orthosis or night guard are the best long-term methods to treat TMJ and bruxism, Botox is a great short-term treatment option.

M I G R A I N E S A N D M O R EIn 2010, the FDA approved Botox to treat chronic migraine headaches in adults. Headaches and migraines greatly affect every aspect of a per-son’s life: social, physical, emotional and mental.

Botox is an effective treatment option in certain headache and migraine cases. When injected at the labeled doses in recommended areas (such as the temporalis muscles), Botox is expected to produce results lasting up to three months—depending on the individual.

The list of issues Botox addresses is long, but here are some main head, face and neck conditions Botox can treat:

•Chronic migraines.•TMJ disorder.•Blepharospasm (eyelid spasms).•Muscle hypertrophy

(enlarged, overactive muscles).•Strabismus (crossed eyes).• Involuntary hemifacial spasms (of

the face).•Allergic rhinitis (nasal allergy).•Spasmodic torticollis (painful,

involuntary neck movement).

Since I incorporated Botox injections in my dental practice, I am continu-ously amazed by the cosmetic and therapeutic results Botox injections have provided to my family of patients. While not a long-term solution, if prop-erly injected by the right doctor, Botox can provide incredible results.

Dr. Sid Solomon is a cosmetic and neuromuscular dentist with 27 years of experience. He practices in three locations and is the author of “Dream Big, Smile Big.” He invented Unitox, the first and only FDA-approved specialty syringe for use with Botox. Unitox syringes ensure accuracy and precision in every injection. They are the only syringe marked in Botox units. To learn more, visit www.timetosmile.com.

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