For many dental implant patients, restoring facial volume can be as critical as the dental restoration for optimizing cosmetic outcomes. In a workshop at the American Academy of Implant Dentistry Annual Scientific Meeting in Las Vegas, Pankaj Singh, DDS urged attendees to pay close attention to facial structures and consider using Botox and dermal filler agents for patients who need facial volume restorations.
"Besides creating beautiful smiles, we like to create harmony between the dento-facial complex by addressing the deep lines and wrinkles in the face that can prevent our patients from looking their best," said Singh. "Soft tissues that ring the mouth are as important as perfectly restored teeth for an attractive and confident smile," said Singh.
Botox is a natural and purified protein that relaxes facial muscles by blocking nerve impulses. Once the muscles are at rest, the skin becomes smoother, creating a more natural and relaxed appearance. The effects last about three to four months and patients feel little, if any, discomfort after the procedure.
For older dental implant patients with facial aging, the corners the mouth begin to turn down and wrinkles appear around the lips. "Botox can be used by dentists to relax affected muscles to raise mouth corners and smooth wrinkles to assure successful and satisfying outcomes," said Singh.
Dermal filler agents, such as Restylane, treat fat and collagen volume loss due to the aging process that causes static lines to develop. "As we age, our body's production of Hyaluronic Acid (HA), the body's natural filler decreases, which causes facial lines to appear," Singh explained. He added that it takes about two weeks for dermal filler agents to show results and some patients experience side effects, such as localized pain, infection, bleeding, swelling, redness, bruising and tenderness in and near the injection site. Results are not permanent and injections will need to be repeated periodically to maintain the cosmetic improvement.
An estimated 8 percent of dentists in North America now provide Botox and dermal filer cosmetic treatments for patients and the number is growing, as state dental boards lobby to allow dentists to use the agents for cosmetic dentistry.
"Facial volume restoration is the future for the achieving optimal aesthetic outcomes in the delivery of cosmetic and restorative dental care," said Singh. "Dentists have as much training and knowledge in the oral and maxillofacial area as dermatologists and other providers, so they, with proper training, can be as proficient in administering these agents," said Singh.
About AAID
AAID is the leading professional society dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of implant dentistry through research and education. The annual meeting is the field's leading venue for cutting-edge, evidence-based implant research presentations and demonstrations of state-of-the art implantation techniques.
AAID can help consumers find a local credentialed implant dentist at www.aaid.com. AAID is based in Chicago and has more than 3,500 members. It is the first organization dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of implant dentistry by supporting research and education to advance comprehensive implant knowledge.
SOURCE American Academy of Implant Dentistry
Comments
As an Aesthetic Dentist I concur with Dr. Singh, there are a vast number of treatment modalities in dentistry where the use of both botox and dermal fillers serve to enhance the patients soft facial tissues. As dental proffessionals we have the training and ability to evaluate the facial anatomy and physiology related to muscle control, muscle asymmetry and facial volume depletion. Thru proper training dentist can identify appropriate patients who may benefit from nonsurgical procedures with HA-based dermal injectable agents (fillers) alone or in combination with neuromuscular blockade therapy (botox) . Treatment goals often include, recontour of facial proportions to achieve symmetry, for example facial dimension and definition, jaw line shaping, chin, masseter reduction, gummy smiles and improved outward projection of lips.
An understanding of guidelines, protocols and techniques are key factors in reaching dental goals, reducing patient risk as well as creating patient satisfaction.