Cosmetic Injectables in Dentistry

There are many dental procedures and treatments available to help care for your teeth, gums, and mouth. Some of these require invasive procedures, drills, painful injections, etc. which can make many patients nervous.Facial pain can also cause distress to patients. This is why more dentists are turning to cosmetic injectables to accompany their work. As many people know, cosmetic injectables involve the use of muscle relaxants or fillers to smooth out wrinkles and give people a younger look. However, dentists are now starting to use cosmetic injectables to help treat a variety of dental and facial issues. Cosmetic facial injectables fall into two categories:
  • relaxing agents
  • filling agents (dermal fillers).
Whilst filling agents are used for mainly aesthetic purposes (to smooth out wrinkles), relaxing agents are being used for dental procedures. It helps relax the muscles providing a smoother procedure and helps with certain treatments.

Cosmetic injectables are used in dentistry to relieve:

  • Orofacial and craniofacial pain
  • Neck and shoulder pain
  • TMJ pain
  • Myofascial pain dysfunction
  • Tension-type headaches
  • Migraines

Other dental uses for cosmetic injectables include:

Teeth grinding

This is caused by unconsciously tensing the jaws and clenching the teeth throughout the night. It can be caused by stress which results in the facial muscles tensing up. Constant teeth grinding can cause damage to your teeth by slowly wearing on the enamel, leaving it susceptible to damage and decay. Your dentist will recommend using a mouth guard at night to protect the teeth and undergoing stress management to help relieve the stress symptoms. However, more dentists are now recommending muscle relaxant injections which have been shown to help relieve some cases of teeth grinding since the injection helps relax your jaw. The effects of the muscle relaxant will last you around four months providing much-needed relief.

Relieving some dental pain

Many dental appliances (such as dentures) may cause some mild gum and muscle aches, pains, and discomfort when initially using them. When you are first fitted with these dental appliances, it will take some time for your teeth and mouth to grow accustomed to it and during this time you may experience some discomfort. Some dentists recommend muscle relaxant injection treatments as these are helpful in relieving some of your pain and discomfort and give you a more relaxed and pain-free treatment.

Helps with orthodontic treatments

Undergoing orthodontic treatment can be a little painful, especially at the beginning. Orthodontic treatments work by actually moving your teeth into a new position and this can cause pain and discomfort. When you are first fitted with your braces, you will undoubtedly experience some pain and then again after each subsequent orthodontic visit during when your braces are tightened and adjusted. To help alleviate some of the muscle and gum pain associated with your braces, muscle relaxant injections can be used to help relax and relieve the pain. It can also help you adjust to your braces more easily which can be especially useful for children.

Dermal fillers for dentistry

You probably know that dermal fillers are used for increasing the volume in your face, but did you know that they can be used in dentistry as well? Certain dermal fillers can be used in conjunction with numbing treatments for dental procedures as well as enhancing facial, jaw, and mouth aesthetics following a dental treatment.

TMJ/TMD Treatment

Patients who suffer from temporomandibular joint (found where the jaw bone meets the skull) disorder will experience much pain and discomfort. This pain can spread to the rest of your face leading to headaches, facial pain, irritability and moodiness. TMJ can be caused by the moving of this joint or due to irritability from bruxism (teeth grinding). Muscle relaxant injections are used to help alleviate the pain caused by TMJ by relieving the tension in the muscles. It can also ease headaches (caused by TMJ) and minimise lockjaw. Injectable muscle relaxants block the nerve endings which are connected to the muscle fibres, effectively slowing down its activity. After a few months, as the nerve endings regenerate, they are more relaxed and can help alleviate teeth grinding which causes TMJ and headaches.

Aesthetics

Cosmetic injectables can also be used by your dentist to help enhance your mouth and smile. They can be used to add volume and smooth out lines and wrinkles around the mouth, lips, and even dental implant sites! Dentists are trained and experienced in dealing with matters of the mouth and face, and many of them are qualified to use cosmetic injectables. Dentists understand the precision required to use injectables and have the experience.Many patients are also now requesting cosmetic injectables as it is a non-surgical and non-invasive method of achieving a fresher and younger look around the lips and mouth, and greatly assists with dental pain and discomfort, especially during treatments and procedures. It is important to discuss the use of cosmetic injectables with your dentist before undergoing any treatment, to check whether it’s right for you and your dental problem.

Lara Smile | Geelong

Want to know more about cosmetic injectables for dentistry and whether it’s right for you? To book an appointment at Lara Smile in Geelong by calling 03 5282 3201, emailing enquiries@laradental.com.au, or completing the query form on our Contact Us page to speak to one of our dental professionals.