If you are like most people, you may be unaware of the many uses of botox. Many individuals associate botox injections with correcting cosmetic imperfections. This is a common and effective way to correct a variety of cosmetic imperfections such as fine lines and wrinkles. Botox treatment is also an effective instrument in dentistry settings. You may be wondering how a dentist can use botox to help their patients and if the treatments are proven to be effective. The following points show a few oral conditions that have been effectively treated with botox. 

Changes in Mouth Structure

There are a number of things that can cause muscles in the face and neck to fall out of position. One of those things is going an extended length of time with missing teeth. Some individuals get teeth extractions and never wear dentures. This can result in lip muscles falling out of symmetry. If these individuals decide to get dentures later in life, the dentures might fit awkwardly.

Botox treatments can aid these patients. The injections can cause the lip muscles to relax. In some cases, repeated treatments are needed to maintain the appearance. However, some less severe cases of this issue can be treated over a period of time and do not require continued treatments as long as the patient sticks with the treatment plan. Dentists will usually stress the importance of wearing dentures as recommended in order to correct or maintain the corrected appearance. 

Bruxism

This is a condition that causes some individuals to clench their teeth regularly. Some of these individuals may also grind their teeth in their sleep. The force of the tooth grinding and clenching can negatively impact the appearance of your teeth and cause jaw pain. Botox treatments and wearing a mouthguard can protect your teeth and reduce or eliminate jaw pain for individuals with bruxism. It can be a good option for individuals who do not want to get corrective jaw surgery. 

A dentist is a good resource to use to learn more about botox in dentistry. Dentists who are using this as a treatment option for their patients can examine your mouth and determine if the treatments could benefit your condition. Botox treatments are long-lasting alternatives to surgical procedures, which makes them ideal for individuals who are fearful of surgery or not a good match for certain procedures. The results are not permanent, which means that patients who see good results will need to continue their treatments to improve or preserve the results.

Contact a local botox treatment service to learn more.