Cosmetic Dentistry Directory Blog

While many of us have heard of BOTOX® and injectable dermal fillers as cosmetic treatments to help get rid of fine lines and wrinkles, we might not expect to find them in a dental practice. However, more and more cosmetic dentists nationwide are offering BOTOX® and dermal fillers to their cosmetic dentistry patients.

Some patients may simply want the treatments for a more youthful look, but some cosmetic dentists believe that facial injectables like BOTOX®, Restylane®, Juvéderm, and others can seriously enhance the final look of a cosmetic dental procedure with immediate results. These treatments offer a way to improve the appearance of a patient's profile and lips to complement the patient's beautiful new smile.

In addition to cosmetic benefits, BOTOX® may also help in treating certain pain symptoms associated with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. Neuromuscular dentists who treat TMJ problems are already using advanced technology to provide relief for symptoms such as TMJ migraines, neck and back pain, and bruxism. BOTOX®, a neuromuscular relaxer, may be an added tool for neuromuscular dentists to help relieve TMJ symptoms.

Use of BOTOX® and dermal fillers is already catching on in the world of cosmetic dentistry. This November at the Greater New York Dental Meeting (GNYDM), a gathering of nearly 60,000 people, will offer two programs on BOTOX® and two more on injectable fillers where dentists can learn hands-on how to use these treatments for both therapeutic and aesthetic purposes.

If you are interested in BOTOX® or dermal fillers as a part of a cosmetic dentistry program such as a Smile Makeover, please contact us at The Cosmetic Dentistry Directory or click on your state in the map at the bottom of this page.

Medical imaging technology has been one of the fastest-growing fields in medical innovations for years. CT scans, MRI, and other imaging technologies have revolutionized the way diseases and conditions are diagnosed throughout the world. Many cosmetic dentists and neuromuscular dentists are now taking advantage of new imaging technologies to better diagnose and treat problems like temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) and impacted dentition.

One of the newest dental imaging technologies cosmetic dentists are using is known as Cone Beam Tomography (CBCT). The first CBCT imaging system to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was the NewTom™ QR-DVT 9000 in 2001. Since then, CBCT machines have continued to develop. The value of the CBCT technology is that it produces a full volumetric, 3D image of the head and neck in just a few minutes. This allows your cosmetic dentist to see the entire musculoskeletal system of your head and neck, enhancing the dentist's knowledge of:

• Bone density and quality
  
• Dental arch widths before and after treatment
  
• Orientation of impacted teeth
  
• Airway issues, including those that lead to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
  
• TMJ position and alignment
  

With the expanded field of view offered by CBCT imaging technology, your general dentist or cosmetic dentist may even recognize problems beyond the mouth and jaw. While dentists are not necessarily trained in diagnosing soft tissue conditions or brain tissue conditions, they may be the first to catch a serious potential problem and refer you to a physician who can help. With CBCT Cephalograms, some dentists can even routinely identify potential brain tumors and thyroid cancers, which are important to catch early.

To find an experienced cosmetic dentist in your area, please view our nationwide Cosmetic Dentist Directory or contact us directly.

For close to three decades, the airline industry has been using a process known as Crew Resource Management (CRM) to reduce the risk of accidents caused by human error. CRM involves using checklists to ensure that all proper steps are performed, enhancing safety. Complicated dental procedures, like flying an airplane, are highly technical and even small errors can have disastrous results for both dentists and pilots.

Russell Taichman, a professor of dentistry at the University of Michigan, believes that dentists could benefit greatly from a CRM-type checklist approach. Checklists, Taichman believes, can help dentists reduce errors by standardizing the routine of dental procedures and improving the communication between team members. Harold Pinsky, who is both a practicing dentist and an airline pilot, points out that the checklist empowers dental assistants and other team members to point out things the dentist may have missed and thereby prevent problems.

The CRM-style checklist is already in place in many surgical operating rooms, where studies show checklists reducing surgical complications and deaths by significant margins. While some dentists may be resistant to this strategy, if Taichman's planned clinical trial proves the usefulness of CRM, checklists may become standard in general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry practices nationwide.

To find a qualified general dentist or cosmetic dentist in your state, contact The Cosmetic Dentist Directory or click on your state in the map at the bottom of the page.