DTME0410

When is Botox used? The areas that Botox is com- monly used for smoothing of fa- cial wrinkles are the forehead, between the eyes (glabellar re- gion), and around the corners of the eyes (crow’s feet) (Figs. 1, 2) and around the lips. Botox has important clinical uses as an adjunct in TMJ and bruxism cases, and for patients withchronicTMJandfacialpain. Botox is also used to comple- ment esthetic dentistry cases; as a minimally-invasive alternative to surgicallytreating high lip line cases; for denture patients who have trouble adjusting to new dentures; for lip augmentation; and has uses in orthodontic and periodontic cases where facial muscle retraining is necessary. No other health-care provider has the capability to help patients in so many areas as do dentists with Botox and der- mal fillers. What about dermal fillers? Dermal fillers, such as hyaluronic acid (Juvederm Ultra and Restylane) are commonly used to add volume to the face in the nasolabial folds, oral com- missures, lips and marionette lines (Figs. 3, 4). As we age, collagen is lost in these facial areas and these lines start to deepen. These dermal fillers are injected right under the skin to plump up these areas so that these lines are much less noticeable. Dermal fillers are also used for lip augmentation and are used by dentists for high lip line cases, uneven lips and to make the peri-oral area more esthetic. Thefacelooksmoreyouthfuland is the perfect complement to any esthetic dentistry case that you do. What’s a dentist got to do with it? We as dentists give injections all the time; this is just learning howtogiveanotherkindofinjec- tionthatisoutsidethemouth,but isinthesameareaofthefacethat we inject all the time. Dentists also have a distinct advantage over dermatologists, plastic surgeons, medical es- theticians and nurses who com- monly provide these procedures in that we can deliver profound anesthesia in these areas before accomplishingthesefillerproce- dures. Patients who undergo such treatment by other health practi- tioners can be quite uncomfort- able during the procedure, and indeed this is one of the biggest patient complaints about dermal fillers. Many dentists are surprised to find that more than half of the United States allow dentists to provide Botox and dermal fillers to patients. Why wouldn’t you provide these services if you al- ready offer whitening and es- thetic dentistry to your patients? I would make the strong ar- gument that dentists are the true specialists of the face, much more so than most other health- care professionals, including dermatologists and plastic sur- geons. It is time to stand up for what we know and what we can ac- complish. Do patients want this? Is there a market for these services? In 2008, close to $3 bil- lion was spent on botulinum toxin and dermal filler therapy in the U.S. Think about this: that was money spent on non-surgical, elective,estheticproceduresthat could have been spent on es- thetic dentistry, but the patient made a distinct choice. Interestingly, these proce- dures become more popular in an uncertain economy because patients want to do something to look better that is more afford- able than surgical esthetic op- tions. How do you get there? Like anything else you do, of- fering this type of service re- quires training. The learning curve is short because you al- ready know how to give comfort- able injections. I often give train- ing sessions in Botox and dermal fillers and dentists are amazed howeasytheseproceduresareto learn and accomplish compared to everything else we do. Finding practice models is easy: start asking family and friends who will fight to have you practice on them. If you want even more proof, ask women in your practice if theyhavehadorwouldlikeBotox or dermal filler therapy. You will be overwhelmed at the positive response and shocked at the number of people you know already receiving these treatments. Conclusion What’s the next big thing in dentistry?Itmaycomeaswestart expanding outside of the teeth and gums into the peri-oral and maxillofacial tissues, which is within every dentist’s skill set. DENTALTRIBUNE Middle East & Africa Edition 9 It's digital, cable-free, lightweight and mobile – there are a good many reasons for choosing the VITA Easyshade Compact. And every one of these is in itself a winner. With the new generation of digital shade measurement you determine and check the tooth shade in a matter of seconds. The VITA Easyshade Compact is designed for all shades of the VITA SYSTEM 3D-MASTER and the VITA classical A1-D4 shades. This high-tech instrument impresses with a great accuracy of measurement using state-of- the-art spectrophotometric measurement technology. See for yourself. Find out more at www.vita-zahnfabrik.com. 3384E VITA Easyshade® Compact – The exact shade in the blink of an eye. The new generation of digital tooth shade determination AD Page 4DT Trends & Applications

Please activate JavaScript!
Please install Adobe Flash Player, click here for download