Dentistry with a Side of Botox?
K. Mathews on 18 Sep 2012 at 9:00am
Cosmetic dentistry is a phrase that usually describes things like teeth whitening and veneers, but some dentists are broadening that term to include Botox. At RealSelf, we've always been advocates for visiting doctors within their respective specialties to achieve the best results - and on a matter of safety - but it's not uncommon for patients to opt for convenience in such a matter. It seems some patients are taking the opportunity to get wrinkle-hiding injections while getting their teeth checked out at the dentist’s office.
According to Macleans.ca, while only a small percentage of patients are starting to take advantage of the Botox service in Canada, those who do cite convenience and its discreetness. The cost of Botox gets added to the dental bill and many patients don’t even tell their spouses about the bonus procedure.
One argument made in favor of the double-duty procedures is that Canadian dentists have used Botox to treat jaw pain and teeth grinding. Only recently, however, were the rules changed to permit dentists to use Botox cosmetically. The counter argument is that it's a blatant revenue booster for dentists, with risks for those in the chair.
Warren Roberts leads several Botox workshops designed specifically for dentists to teach them how to administer the toxin, and feels dentists are a natural fit for the job, explaining, “The average dentist, in his first year, does more injections on awake patients who move and squirm than the average physician does in his whole life.”
Maybe so, but we stand by the fact that doctors who administer Botox best are those with specialized training for the face. Data shows that people are significantly more satisfied with injections that have been performed by doctors who are board-certified for cosmetic medicine over other people who are legally allowed to do it. Take that into account before enlisting your dentist to do your Botox. Just because doctors are allowed to do certain procedures, doesn't mean they necessarily should.
Would you ever consider getting cosmetic injections for your dentist - why or why not? If your a cosmetic dentist, would you consider offering it? We'd love to hear patient and doctor feedback in the comments below!
photo credit: Macleans.ca (Simon Hayter)
No dentist simply orders botox and then uses it. We all seek certification training to get specific skills to administer botox, so it really comes down to price and convenience. What could be more convenient than a dental office, a "touch up" after a cleaning?
Yes, we agree there are definitely two sides to this argument. There are some very well-trained dentists who are naturally skilled at injections and well-trained on the matter, but on the other side, there isn't a guarantee that all dentists have done the same training as those board-certified in the treatment.
Suffice to say, Botox is an advanced level procedure that requires training beyond just getting a license, no matter what discipline you practice. And MOST of the plastic surgeons that I have talked to aren't doing the procedure, they delegate it to a nurse, so the argument becomes "who is more qualified, a dentist or a nurse?".
Below is a Forum on this very subject matter. There is a good discussion about education requirements. Dr. Pozner's (board certified by American Board of Plastic Surgery) March 14th 2012 comment confirms what Dr. Timmerman has stated.
Dentist and Botox.
Great points and debate in that forum! Thanks for bringing that forward, Megan.
I can definitely see both sides of the fence on this one. Dentists do tend to do a ton of injections, plus the dentist him/herself would be doing the injections which is often not the case at the board certified plastic surgeons offices, where you are put into the hands of their "injector" instead of the doctor. I have also heard strong arguments made for the fact that dentists do have specialized training for the face. Often the counter argument is that the training is only for the lower 2/3 of the face. It will certainly be interesting to see how this all plays out in the long run.
I personally wouldn't do it, but you point out some really interesting reasons some people might (such as the cost being innocuously added to a dental bill).