Dental Tribune U.S. Edition

3B f CT page 1B course we teach both Botox and Dys- port and focus on the glabella com- plex (the frown lines between the eyes), the forehead and “crow’s feet” (smile lines around the eye). In the filler course, we focus on the nasolabial folds (lines from the ala of the nose to the corners of the mouth), the “marionette lines” (lines from the corners of the mouth to the inferior border of the mandible) and the lips. However, with time and experi- ence, there is no limit to how creative the practitioner can become. In my office, we can perform a lunchtime “liquid facelift” by combining botuli- num toxin and filler material in mul- tiple areas of the face. We can accomplish this by plac- ing the fillers via an intra-oral route, without any bruising or swelling, allowing patients to go right back to work. Once the practitioner gains experi- ence and confidence, there are many other exciting procedures that can be done. Instead of doing a genioplasty, you can augment the chin with filler material. You can do a liquid rhino- plasty (nose job), cheek lift or brow lift, just to name a few. How about eliminating a gummy smile, rounding off a square jaw or even augmenting an earlobe? Another application of botulinum toxin in the dental arena is in the treatment of tempromandibular dis- orders (TMD). Tempromandibular disorders can span a wide variety of etiologies, including muscular, liga- mental, intra-articular or bony sourc- es. A diagnosis relies on an extensive history, physical exam, radiologic studies and diagnostic procedures. Botulinum toxin is just one treat- ment modality included in an exten- sive algorithm used in treating TMD. Recent studies show that botulinum toxin contains both a muscle relaxing as well as an analgesic effect. In my opinion, the reason this has become such a controversial topic throughout the medical community is because of the encroaching com- petition that the other specialties are feeling in this multi-billion dollar industry. Over the last five years, non- invasive cosmetic procedures have experienced significant growth due to their increasing popularity and virtually painless, highly profitable, office-based administration, and their ability to make patients’ faces look younger and fuller for longer peri- ods of time. Many specialties, such as gynecologists, family practitioners and ER physicians, are offering these procedures without any backlash. Surely, the dentist is better pre- COSMETIC TRIBUNE | May 2011 Clinical Dr. Zev Schulhof is a board- certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon as well as a physician. He is currently the president of the American Academy of Facial Cosmetics. Schulhof lectures nationally on a variety of topics, including non-invasive facial cosmetic procedures. To date, Schulhof has trained hundreds of dentists and physicians in the art of neurotoxins and facial fill- ers. You may contact him at zev. schulhof@gmail.com. into the fields of architecture and urban planning, political science, communications, art history, psychol- ogy and the meaning of monuments, inspiring audiences to become more involved in their communities and the world at large. A third general session surprise per- formance will provide a unique twist on inspiring attendees through fun and entertainment. The scientific session will take place May 18–21 in Boston at the Hynes Con- vention Center. For more information, visit www.aacdconference.com. CT AD pared, better trained and has more experience in the peri-oral and facial arena than these other specialties. The ADA definition of dentistry is defined as “the evaluation, diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment (non- surgical, surgical or related proce- dures) of diseases, disorders and/or conditions of the oral cavity, max- illofacial area and/or the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body.” Whether you are interested in pro- viding these procedures or not, it is important to defend the skills and tal- ents that the dentist inherently holds. It is time to show the medical community and the rest of the world that we are truly physicians of the oral cavity and its associated structures. CT About the author