When most people think of Botox, they think of purely cosmetic uses, but it goes further than that. You may not know it but Botox can play an important role in dentistry! It can range from relaxing your jaw muscles to just the final cherry on top to make everything look perfect for your dream smile. At our Chicago-based dental loft, we always look at the final details to ensure that everything is perfect by working with our neighbors at Plump Room to harness exactly how Botox and dentistry work together!
What is Botox?
Botox is a neuromodulator that works to ease the strength of a muscle pull by relaxing the muscle. It is very common that people to use it to look younger and as well as reduce excessive sweating. This non-invasive procedure only takes about 10 minutes and kicks in in about 7-10 days with its effects lasting between 3-6 months.
How Does Botox Work With My Veneers?
Botox and veneers can go hand in hand for several reasons. Dr. Brittany will start your consultation with a mock-up of what your smile can look like. You’ll get a chance to take a look on the big screen to see what your smile can look like! Every patient that considers veneers at our office will be recommended to wear a nightguard at night, Botox, or BOTH! The reason behind this is that we want you to protect your investment. You wouldn’t buy a new car without protecting it with insurance, would you?
A nightguard is a plastic mouthpiece that prevents your teeth from touching thus relaxing your jaw at night. It’s a great option for people who wake up with a sore jaw. If you are someone that tends to clench their teeth during the day, you’ll want to go the Botox route.
Dr. Brittany will massage certain areas of your jaw and around the forehead to determine what areas would need to be injected. The appointment itself takes next to no time at all and you’ll go home without any post-procedure discomfort. The Botox will take a bit over a week to set in and as it does, any headaches you may have will disappear and your jaw muscles will begin to loosen up leaving your veneers protected from clenching.
Dr. Brittany can also use Botox to help add that finishing touch to ensure your smile is perfect. If she notices a certain area of the lip lifting a little higher she will recommend Botox just around that spot to help relax the muscle, resulting in your perfect smile!
What Else Can Botox Do For My Smile?
Along with treating bothersome TMJ symptoms, Botox can be used to correct asymmetries and cosmetically enhance your smile by targeting specific muscles. Botox can be used to lift the corners of the mouth by releasing the small muscles that could be pulling them down. This subtle tweak also helps turn back time a bit too by adding a subtle “lift” and preventing marionette lines.
Another insecurity we hear a lot here at Sugar Fix Dental Loft is that of a smile being too gummy. With a dose of Botox on both sides of your nose, the muscle responsible for pulling the lip up so high won’t be able to overdo it anymore. In most cases, you’re left with a softer smile with less gums showing. On occasion, Dr. Brittany will want to do some additional work to the gum line to perfect them even more.
Finally, there’s the lip flip. If you’re on social media like Instagram and TikTok at all, you may have already heard of this procedure that’s used to keep the lips from curling under when you smile. By releasing this muscle, you’ll maintain the same lip show you have at rest while you smile which gives the appearance of more volume without going the route of filler.
What Should I Expect The First Time?
If this is your first time getting Botox done, you’re likely to have to get it done again in approximately three months due to your muscles being overdeveloped. The way your body metabolizes the product also plays a factor in how long the effects will last. There are specific aftercare instructions that you will follow for 24 hours post-treatment, but they’re so easy to do, you won’t have to make many changes to accommodate.
Why Pair It With Your Appointment?
It couldn’t be easier to couple your dental appointment with your Botox appointment. Sugar Fix and Plump Room aren’t just neighbors, they’re connected! You won’t even need to step outside to get from one to the other. When scheduling your appointment with Botox in mind, just let us know and we’ll be more than happy to coordinate both appointments for you.
We care about your teeth just as much as you do which is why we recommend protecting (or even enhancing!) your investment with Botox. You deserve some peace of mind when it comes to showing off your new pearly whites and this makes it easy as pie. Ready to confidently show off your new smile? Reach out to us at the office and let us take care of the rest!