Botox Dentist in Vancouver
- Are you feeling the pain from grinding your teeth or jaw clenching?
- Are you suffering from TMD-related issues?
- Do you experience involuntary muscle spasms that interfere with your efforts to get your teeth realigned properly?
Botox Dentistry in Vancouver, offered by Dr. David Cheng or Dr. Jeffrey Norden, can solve these issues for numerous local dental patients.
What is Botox?
The Cleveland Clinic defines Botox as “the brand name of a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.”
Trained Dentists (and other medical professionals) can use Botox to human advantage by applying small diluted amounts of this bacteria to instigate the controlled relaxation of overused or spasming muscles.
The treatment requires a quick injection with a small needle. Some people compare the injection to the feeling of a bug bite. The procedure is quick, simple, and only takes about 10 to 15 minutes.  No sedation or local anesthetic is needed. You can expect to see results within a few days of treatment.
TMD Treatment with Botox
For patients suffering from Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMD), Botox has emerged as an effective treatment option. At West Coast Smile, Dr. Cheng takes a comprehensive approach to TMD treatment, understanding that pain is often the final symptom of a complex problem that may have started long before seeking professional help.
TMD symptoms that can be addressed with Botox include:
- Limited jaw opening and movement
- Muscle and joint pain
- Persistent headaches and migraines
- Enlarged jaw muscles from excessive clenching
- Sleep disruptions
- Ringing in the ears
Before recommending Botox treatment, Dr. Cheng conducts a thorough evaluation that can include some or all of the following:
- Detailed medical and dental history
- Examination of the masticatory system
- 3D imaging of the TMJ joint
- Muscle activity recordings (EMG)
- Assessment of breathing patterns and habits
Botox works by relaxing the overactive muscles that contribute to TMD symptoms. This treatment can be particularly effective when combined with other approaches, like Heart Rate Variability biofeedback, which helps regulate the body’s stress response—a common underlying factor in TMD cases.
For many patients, Botox treatment for TMD can:
- Reduce muscle tension and associated pain
- Improve jaw mobility
- Decrease headache frequency
- Help restore normal jaw function
- Provide relief from chronic discomfort
Is Botox Therapeutic?
Botox has been found to help in many maxillofacial, cosmetic, and therapeutic oral situations and treatment by your Botox Dentist in Vancouver can relieve a number of persistent and uncomfortable conditions. People diagnosed with Bruxism (clenching or grinding of the teeth) have found relief using Botox. Since Bruxism can cause tooth and gum problems, headaches, and facial pain, many patients find the relaxation of jaw muscles therapeutic and helpful.
Some patients getting their teeth realigned can experience involuntary muscle spasms adjusting to orthodontics. These spasms can prevent the proper realignment of the teeth and cause discomfort. Botox can often be a therapeutic option for these patients. Patients adjusting to dental appliances can encounter unfortunate involuntary muscle reactions that prevent their appliances from ever feeling stable. The application of Botox therapy in Kitsilano can be a therapeutic option for these patients as well.
Is Botox Safe?
Botox injections have been approved as safe and for use in cosmetic dentistry in Canada for patients who are not pregnant or breastfeeding, who do not have a neurological disease, and or who are not allergic to albumin or a part of that preservative.
What are Botox Side-Effects?
Botox has been used regularly throughout Canada for therapeutic and cosmetic reasons since 1990. The most common side effects are neck pain, eyelid drooping, dry mouth, discomfort or pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache pain, eye problems, double vision, blurred vision, decreased eyesight and dry eyes, and allergic reactions. These are some but not all of the possible serious side effects of Botox injections.
Contact our Vancouver dental clinic for more information about our Botox procedures and results. Use the button below to request your appointment.