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Review
. 2014 Dec;8(12):ZE25-9.
doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2014/11624.5341. Epub 2014 Dec 5.

BOTOX: Broadening the Horizon of Dentistry

Affiliations
Review

BOTOX: Broadening the Horizon of Dentistry

Pranav Nayyar et al. J Clin Diagn Res. 2014 Dec.

Abstract

Botox has been primarily used in cosmetic treatment for lines and wrinkles on the face, but the botulinum toxin that Botox is derived from has a long history of medically therapeutic uses. For nearly 13 years, until the introduction of Botox Cosmetic in 2002, the only FDA-approved uses of Botox were for crossed eyes (strabismus) and abnormal muscle spasms of the eyelids (blepharospasm). Since then botulinum A, and the seven other forms of the botulinum toxin, have been continuously researched and tested. Botox is a neurotoxin derived from bacterium clostridium botulinm. The toxin inhibits the release of acetylcholine (ACH), a neurotransmitter responsible for the activation of muscle contraction and glandular secretion, and its administration results in reduction of tone in the injected muscle. The use of Botox is a minimally invasive procedure and is showing quite promising results in management of muscle-generated dental diseases like Temporomandibular disorders, bruxism, clenching, masseter hypertrophy and used to treat functional or esthetic dental conditions like deep nasolabial folds, radial lip lines, high lip line and black triangles between teeth.

Keywords: Black triangles; Botulinum toxin A; Bruxism; Gummy smile; Hyperfunction.

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Figures

[Table/Fig-1]:
[Table/Fig-1]:
Commercially available Botulinum Toxin A as Botox (Allergan) [2]
[Table/Fig-2]:
[Table/Fig-2]:
Black triangles between the teeth can be filled up by Botulinum toxin A [14]
[Table/Fig-3]:
[Table/Fig-3]:
Botulinum toxin A is being used in treating patients with gummy smile [24]
[Table/Fig-4]:
[Table/Fig-4]:
(a)Location for botulinum toxin A injection in hypertrophied masseter muscle (b) botulinum toxin A injection of masseteric hypertrophy [31]

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