Botox Archives - The Wealthy Dentist

Off-Label Botox Marketing Gets $600 Million Fine

August 4, 2021 By Jim Du Molin Leave a Comment

Allergan has been slapped with a $600M fine for illegally marketing Botox for off-label use.

After a years-long investigation, the company pled guilty to one misdemeanor charge of “misbranding.”

Allergan had marketed Botox to physicians for treating migraine and headache pain. In addition to advertising the drug’s off-label uses, the company allegedly also instructed doctors on how to “miscode” Botox insurance claims.

Though Botox is commonly used to treat a variety of facial wrinkles, it is only approved to treat the vertical lines (shaped like the number 11) between the brows. It has also been approved for treatment of spasms, eye muscle problems, and excessive underarm perspiration.

Botox is widely used for off-label treatments, including TMJ treatment, facial cosmetics, cerebral palsy treatment, and headaches. However, the manufacturer is not supposed to market the drug for off-label uses.

But Allergan has never been shy when it comes to marketing. In fact, the company filed a lawsuit last year arguing that the FDA should not be able to limit the manufacturer’s marketing and communications with physicians.

“In the lawsuit, Allergan contends that the Government’s legal position that it is a crime for a pharmaceutical company to proactively communicate truthful information to physicians about off-label uses of its products violates the First Amendment and is inconsistent with the Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act.”

–Allergan Files Federal Lawsuit to Allow It to Share Relevant Information with the Medical Community on the Safe Use of BOTOX® for Common Therapeutic Off-Label Treatments

As part of this settlement, Allergan will drop that lawsuit.

The company has also been aggressively marketing Latisse, a new prescription medication that grows eyelashes. Ads feature celebrity users Brooke Shields and Claire Danes, showing off their longer lashes.

Of course, the warning included in their advertisements is enough to give the cosmetically-minded pause:

“LATISSE® may cause darkening of the eyelid skin which may be reversible. LATISSE® may also cause increased brown pigmentation of the colored part of the eye which is likely to be permanent.”

Filed Under: Dental Editorials Tagged With: Botox, marketing

Dentists Offer Botox in the Dental Office

August 4, 2021 By Jim Du Molin Leave a Comment

Scottish Dentists Cash in on Cosmetic Craze

It’s a deadly toxin whose paralytic properties make wrinkles disappear instantly, and consumers love it. In Scotland, more and more dentists are cashing in on the popularity of Botox. With each treatment costing hundreds of dollars, the profits are hard to resist. However, some are concerned that dentists aren’t receiving adequate training before offering the injections in their dental practices.

Filed Under: Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental News Tagged With: Botox, Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Care, dentistry, dentists

Dental Botox is Big Business These Days (video)

August 4, 2021 By Jim Du Molin Leave a Comment

Americans spent $1.9 billion on injectable procedures in 2010. Botox™ is big business these days and some dentists are getting in on the action by offering cosmetic Botox™ for their dental patients.

One dentist told The Wealthy Dentist, “I want to do Botox™. I don’t know why we have not started earlier. Who better to give injections than a dentist? We do it all day long. We have great touch. It is a great add-on to all the cosmetics we do!”

In this TWD survey, we asked dentists if cosmetic dentists should offer non-dental cosmetic treatments, such as Botox™ injections.

Click on Play to hear how dentists responded to this dental survey question –

Tell us your thoughts on cosmetic dentists providing Botox™ treatments.

Filed Under: Dental Videos Tagged With: Botox, Cosmetic, Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Care, Dental Marketing, dental survey, dentist, dentistry, dentists, injectables, survey, video marketing

Botox From The Dentist: Good Idea Or Not? (Video)

August 4, 2021 By Jim Du Molin Leave a Comment

Botox is used in dentistry to treat TMJ (aka TMD, or temporomandibular joint disorder).

However, some dentists use it for cosmetic purposes. Botox injections are big business as a popular wrinkle removal treatment for people looking to combat the signs of aging.

We wanted to know what doctors think about this trend, so we conducted a survey asking if dentists should provide Botox.

Jim Du Molin and Julie Frey report on dentists’ opinions of the role of Botox in dental practices.

Of the dentists in this survey, one in four thinks this is not an appropriate role for dentists. Another 7% feel it should be done for therapeutic reasons only.

“Botox for TMD can be therapeutic. I am against dentists offering it for cosmetic purposes,” said a Minnesota dentist.

“I see it as a device to increase income rather than an admirable service,” said a Pennsylvania dentist.

However, 70% of our survey respondents see no problem with dentists offering Botox treatments and dermal fillers like Restylane.

“I have been teaching and doing this for over 7 years. Where else can one earn about $500 profit in under 5 minutes? Cosmetics pays,” said a New Jersey dentist.

“I don’t provide it in my office, but I don’t have a problem with a properly trained dentist providing the service. Heck, most dentists are better trained and have more knowledge about head and neck anatomy than most general physicians or staff at beauty salons providing Botox and other dermal fillers!” said an Ohio prosthodontist.

“I find Botox good for elderly patients who have a problem with drooling at night due to loss of muscle tone,” shared a Florida dentist. “I use 3-5 units of Botox injected in the muscle on the affected side and it helps to minimize the problem.”

“Do you know if states are going to prohibit this? I have invested in the training but have not bought the supplies,” said a Maryland dentist.

Jim predicts that demand for Botox is only going to grow, but offers these cautionary words for smart dental practice management: “You’ll definitely want to check with your state before you invest in becoming a dental Botox provider.”

Filed Under: Dental Videos Tagged With: Botox, Dental Botox, dental videos

Botox Dentists Expand Definition of “Cosmetic Dentistry” (video)

August 4, 2021 By Jim Du Molin Leave a Comment

Is it time for Botox to be included in cosmetic dentistry?The slight majority of dentists think so!

In this survey, 57% of dentists said that since dentists are licensed medical professionals, they are fully capable of safely offering offering non-dental cosmetic procedures such as dental Botox injections.

The other 43% think dentists ought to focus on healthy gums and teeth, not becoming a Botox dentist.