Comments on: Do Dentists and Botox Belong Together?

By: Patti Depaola

Patti Depaola — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 07:53:00 +0000

Last week a Blue Island Illinois teenager died of sepsis due to a root canal.

By: Drlynelle

Drlynelle — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 23:37:00 +0000

10 people a week that is..

By: Drlynelle

Drlynelle — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 23:35:00 +0000

My dental office was next to a clinic of cosmetic surgery. The plastic surgeon asked me if I would do the Botox and dermal filler treatments for his clients. Of course it came naturally. I have been providing these services since 1999 and currently see approximately 10 people for botox and Juvederm.

By: Hgj

Hgj — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 03:30:00 +0000

You are really fu*k up …

By: Mark Pike DMD

Mark Pike DMD — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:48:53 +0000

I find it ludicrous that a dentist can be trained legally to insert an IV cannula into a vein in someones arm or hand and administer drugs that can cause death,can and do give IM (intramuscular)injections of antibiotics, some have received training to go on to be anesthesiologists, yet the medical profession has their panties in a bunch over a dentist placing a protein sub-dermal (under the skin). Botox is not a irreversible procedure such as cosmetic surgery. Medicine allows nurses, PA’s and numerous other ancillaries to inject botox under supervision. This means they are on the premises not in the room. Medicine knows that if the dental profession starts giving botox, patients will gladly have done in the dental setting rather than in the Plastic Surgeons office.

By: Dr A Singh [BChD]

Dr A Singh [BChD] — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 10:49:22 +0000

If a medical doctor or a dentist holds the diploma for placing botox then it should suffice (if the diploma is recognised by the countrys health regulators). The head and neck anatomy is done extensivley in dentistry, furthermore if maxillo-facial and oral surgery is a direct branch of dentistry then placing botox is mild in comparison. Local anaesthesia on the face is used when doing extra-oral approaches to internal fracture reductions in facial regions. My only qualm is when a practioner feels he is unable to handle the procedure and then goes ahead with it. If one feels they cannot handle more complex procedures then one should refer to a specialist. This is almost always how the heirarchy of medicine goes. Im pretty sure my dental colleagues in US and around the world would agree?

By: Barton Ross, DDS

Barton Ross, DDS — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 19:41:49 +0000

Non-surgical Treatment of the Peri-oral Soft Tissues and TMJ / TMD Symptoms-
The Rationale For the Use of Botox and Facial Fillers by General Dentists
The appearance and function of the peri-oral soft tissues is critical to the preservation and appearance of the dentition.
Many dental restorative and cases are enhanced and benefit from treatment of the peri-oral soft tissues with the proper utilization of facial fillers and Botox (neurotoxin).
Restoring volume with facial fillers to the lips, philtrum, nasolabial and labiomental folds and the cheeks and “jaw line” are often necessary to produce the optimal restorative esthetic result for many denture and implant patients as well as middle-aged and senior patients who undergo routine general dental restorative treatment.
Non-surgical treatment of a “gummy smile” is simply accomplished with a very small dose of Botox at each levator labii superioris muscle. Treatment of the damaging and painful effects of TMJ/TMD symptoms such as excessively worn dentition and damaged periodontium, derangements of the TMJ capsular components both hard and soft, muscular pain of the muscles of mastication and associated headaches, and persistent fractures of dental restorations are successfully reduced and even eliminated with the utilization of Botox treatment of the masseter and/or temporalis muscles. And of course, rhytids (wrinkles and facial “lines”) of the peri-oral draping soft tissues are reduced with Botox treatment. Botox and facial filler treatments are temporary due to the nature of their physiologic properties.
How much daily familiarity do gynecologists and internists have regarding head and neck anatomy? How much training and experience in creating beauty, balance and proportion do they receive? How familiar are these doctors in effectively anesthetizing the facial region on a customary basis? In there daily practice routines, how concerned with the cosmetic appearance of their patients are these estimable physicians? Yet, by mere possession of their medical licenses, they are deemed suitable and appropriate to provide Botox and facial filler treatments to their patients and with no additional training requirements necessary.
General dentists are very knowledgeable in head and neck anatomy and are accomplished and adept in surgical and non-surgical procedures. They possess exceptional skills to achieve an excellent cosmetic and restorative result by virtue of training and a highly developed appreciation and sense of beauty, balance and proportion. Attending to the enhancement and treatment of the peri-oral soft tissues is well within the domain of the general dentist. The properly general dentist is very well-suited to become an expert facial rejuvenation practitioner.

Barton P. Ross, D.D.S.
Copyright 2009 All rights reserved

By: Howard Katz

Howard Katz — Fri, 21 May 2010 06:14:15 +0000

If specialized and unspoecialized MD’s are comfortable employing RN’s who have zero training in facial anatomy and masticatory diseases to inject Botox on their behalf in their offices, then they should have no objection to the profession most trained, dentists, doing these procedures. Also, it is close to impossible having someone untrained in smile esthetics use injectible fillers around the mouth and to expect a natural esthetically pleasing outcome.

Dental Boards dont make the rules they enforce the rules.It is the politicians that make the rules on behalf of lobbyists representing MD’s who do not want to have dentists participate in this lucrative field.This has nothing to do with training and skill. If it did, ONLY THE DENTISTS WOULD BE DOING THESE PROCEDURES. PRIOR TO THE USE OF THESE MATERIALS, MD’S AND RN,S WERE NOT ROUTINELY INJECTING IN THE MOUTH AND FACE.

By: Geri

Geri — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 18:07:58 +0000

I have found it very amusing that patients will argue and carry on about having to make a co-payment for covered, dentally necessary procedures. We have all heard it: “My insurance pays for everything!” Yet, those same patients will gladly shell out in the upwards of $500 to $800 for Botox/Juvederm treatments. It is no wonder that with the squeezing of payments to medically necessary procedures that practitioners are seeking additional aspects to their practice to satisfy their patients and make up for the short-fall.

By: Michele Arnold, DDS

Michele Arnold, DDS — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:39:11 +0000

Hello,

I am a licensed dentist in the state of Illinois. I was recently certified to inject Botox for dental purposes. However I have been asked numerous times if I could host a “Botox Party” outside the office. During the process of the course we were informed to only administer Botox for dental purposes. Are there some other licenses or certifications I need to obtain in order to fullfil these request for the cosmetic outcome? Thank you.