Facial aesthetics is normally referred to as visually balancing your face structures through non-surgical treatments which can lead to a boost in self-esteem. This includes the removal of fine lines or filling of uneven skin sections.
However, in dentistry its medical uses extend beyond this and can be used to treat multiple functional conditions.
Migraine treatments:
Due to the pressures of modern life, we are seeing an increase in teeth grinding and clenching, medically known as bruxism. These occur both during the day and night and some people are unaware of the habit.
Over time, the overuse of jaw muscles during Bruxism can result in visible enlargement, pain, migraines, tooth wear and disrupted sleep. Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD) including symptoms such as clicking joints can be made worse if you clench and grind.
At Bow Lane Dental we offer consultations to see which treatment option would be correct for you. Whether it is in conjunction with a custom-made mouthguard to further help break the cycle of Bruxism, protect your teeth from wear and relieve tension in the jaw muscles and joints. This helps to relieve the pain, tension and spasms caused by the hyperactivity of the muscles.
In some cases, where the condition perseveres, your dentist could suggest injecting a small dose of a muscle relaxing toxin directly into the masseter muscle (the jaw), weakening the area to stop habitual grinding of the teeth and clenching of the jaw. This can significantly reduce the wear and tear on the teeth due to bruxism (the action of clenching or grinding).
Gummy smile and lip thickness:
Some people feel they show too much gum when they smile, this is known as a ‘gummy smile’. One of the main causes is hyperactivity of the muscle that lifts the upper lip. Using facial aesthetic techniques can relax these muscles, which in turn contract less strongly and therefore less gum is seen. Sometimes, the gummy smile can be exacerbated by a thin upper lip. This method used just above the lip can help the lip to relax, curl outward and appear fuller when smiling.
Fine line treatment:
Wrinkles and fine lines develop over time by the repeated contraction of facial muscles. By injecting a relaxing toxin precisely into these specific muscles, the nerve impulse travelling to the muscle is blocked.
Stopping the muscle from contracting strongly will keep the overlying skin from wrinkling, resulting in a smooth appearance and will prevent the deepening of any lines present. Commonly treated areas include frown lines between the eyes, crow’s feet and forehead lines.
How soon will I see the effects and how long do the effects last?
The aesthetic effects of such toxins appear in 2-7 days and in some cases up to two weeks with the maximum effect 5 - 6 weeks after injection. The effects last for an average of 3-4 months and will vary depending on the condition of your skin, area treated, severity of lines, strength of muscle, amount of product injected, injection technique and lifestyle factors such as sun exposure and smoking.
Are there any side effects?
Relaxing toxins are used extensively in the medical industry for multiple medical conditions. Side effects are uncommon and temporary – you may experience bruising or tenderness at the injection site, a mild headache and very occasionally the treatment may not work as some people are immune to the effects of it. This is more likely in people who have had this treatment many times before. When injecting close to the eye there is a small chance (less than 1%) of developing a temporary drooping of the eyelid. This may last a few weeks, but will always resolve. If this occurs, eye drops can be used to lessen the effect until it wears off naturally.
