Dr. Francine Estrada: Pairing Dentistry and Botox in NYC

Many people are familiar with Botox as a facial treatment to combat aging. For some celebrities, it’s probably a routine part of their annual check-up!

Most people don’t know that an increasing number of talented dentists are now treating their patients with Botox for various dental and cosmetic reasons.

For Dental Artist Dr. Francine Estrada, Botox is just another way she can make you smile — whether it’s from pain relief or a rise in self-confidence because of your fresh, new appearance.

How Does Dental Botox Work?

When Botox is injected into a muscle by a trained professional, it blocks the signal between the muscle and the brain, which stops the muscle movement. When used correctly, it can successfully treat jaw pain and headaches, as well as fulfill cosmetic wishes.

Dental Botox as a Treatment for Pain

Botox for Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ) and Bruxism

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder or TMJ Disorder is a disorder of the joint that connects your jaw to your skull.

TMJ has many causes:

• • • injury to the teeth or jaw
    • an inherited problem from birth
    • misalignment of the teeth or jaw
    • stress
    • arthritis
    • poor posture
    • excessive gum chewing

TMJ can be terribly painful and cause stiffness in the face, mouth, or neck, locking of the jaw, and jaw clicking or popping.

Most treatments for TMJ involve eating soft food, lowering stress, and reducing swelling with ice. But these are not really ‘treatments;’ they’re just ways to avoid pain flaring up again.

Botox is an actual treatment for TMJ. Many of Dr. Estrada’s patients have found relief from their TMJ symptoms because the muscle activity causing their pain has finally been halted with Botox.

Similarly, bruxism, the grinding, clenching, and gnashing of teeth, is easily treated with Botox. Many people unconsciously clench their teeth both when awake and asleep. When Botox is injected into the jaw muscle, it reduces your ability to grind your teeth. The muscles begin to relax, and pain subsides.

Botox for Headaches

You might not readily think of a headache as a dental issue, but it can be!

Bruxism and TMJ often cause your neck and scalp muscles to become tense and contract. If this happens often enough, then throbbing tension headaches form.

By using Botox to help you stop grinding your teeth and clenching your jaw, Dr. Estrada can also eliminate tension headaches.

Cosmetic Botox and Dentistry

Botox Injections for High Lip Lines or ‘Gummy’ Smiles

A high lip line exists when a large area of gum is exposed above your teeth when you smile. This is also referred to as a gummy smile. In the past, the only way to treat a gummy smile was through expensive surgery — but not anymore!

Now a quick injection of Botox by cosmetic dentist Dr. Estrada is all it takes to reduce the appearance of your gums.

Botox to Enhance Your Smile and Refresh Your Look

Botox can also be used in dentistry to enhance your smile. Lines around your lips and eyes can be softened with Botox, leaving you feeling more confident about your smile.

Dental Artist Francine Estrada DMD wants all of her patients to live pain-free and feel confident about their smiles. With Botox, she can solve many dental and cosmetic issues. Questions about Botox? Contact us today!