Dr. Michelle Luis, a south Florida native, practices as a general dentist with substantive experience with fillings, crown, and bridge, veneers, extractions, dentures, Invisalign, and root canals. She also has expertise with a number of cosmetic procedures to aid patients in looking and feeling their very best, including teeth whitening, and Botox. She holds a Master’s degree in Biomedical Science and a Doctorate in Dentistry from Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Luis is a member of the American Dental Association (ADA) and the Florida Dental Association (FDA). Haute Beauty expert Dr. Michelle Luis explains the benefits of Botox and dentistry.

Photo Credit: ShutterstockAs a dentist, my favorite thing about Botox is the therapeutic benefits. When you say Botox (or any brand of neuromodulator) most people instantly think – the “cure “ for reducing fine lines and wrinkles. However, Botox can also be used to treat excessive sweating, manage headaches and pain from clenching your jaw, and reduce the amount of gums that show (the “gummy smile”) when you smile by lowering the top Iip. This is a conservative option for those considering surgery on their gingiva (gums) or an alternative to decreasing the “gummy smile” without having surgery.

I always recommend my patients who come to me with pain and discomfort from excessive clenching and grinding to focus on doing facial exercises and/or wearing night guards, but honestly, most patients are inconsistent or forget to do those recommended exercises and omit to wear their night guard on a regular basis.

Injecting Botox in the masseter muscle will relax this muscle, alleviate pain, and will give you relief. However, please still wear your guard to protect your teeth structure, especially if you have had veneers and extensive crown and bridge dental work. Also, the best part of Botox is that there is no downtime. It literally takes less than 10 minutes after your initial consult.