Botox has been primarily used in cosmetic treatment for lines and wrinkles on the face, but the
botulinum toxin that
Botox is derived from has a long history of medically
therapeutic uses. For nearly 13 years, until the introduction of
Botox Cosmetic in 2002, the only FDA-approved uses of
Botox were for crossed eyes (
strabismus) and abnormal
muscle spasms of the eyelids (
blepharospasm). Since then botulinum A, and the seven other forms of the
botulinum toxin, have been continuously researched and tested.
Botox is a
neurotoxin derived from bacterium clostridium botulinm. The toxin inhibits the release of
acetylcholine (ACH), a
neurotransmitter responsible for the activation of muscle contraction and glandular secretion, and its administration results in reduction of tone in the injected muscle. The use of
Botox is a minimally invasive procedure and is showing quite promising results in management of muscle-generated
dental diseases like
Temporomandibular disorders,
bruxism, clenching, masseter
hypertrophy and used to treat functional or
esthetic dental conditions like deep nasolabial folds, radial lip lines, high lip line and black triangles between teeth.