Can a Dentist Offer Botox in Canada?
Botox and Dentistry
When you hear “dentist,” Botox is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. Most of us associate Botox treatments with professionals such as nurse injectors, dermatologists, or plastic surgeons, but Botox and dentistry often go hand in hand! Aside from its cosmetic effects, Botox is often used for treating dental problems and other medical conditions.
Is it common for Dentists to Administer Botox?
With Botox gaining widespread demand and popularity as a non-invasive aesthetic treatment, regulations are allowing for dentists to administer injectable treatments. Dental offices are routinely offering Botox and filler services, so long as dentists are equipped with the appropriate training and certification.
Dentists undergo specialized professional education of facial anatomy, and have extensive knowledge of the intricate muscles and nerves that affect facial movements around the mouth. Botox and filler in dentistry just make sense – dentists are familiar with oral cosmetics and with injecting targeted facial muscles to promote oral health. This makes dentists the perfect candidates to provide Botox and filler treatment.
Benefit of Botox for Dental Problems:
Botox has become a household name for cosmetic purposes, but Botox is also great for dental problems.
When Botox is injected into targeted muscles, it blocks the nerve signals that enable the muscle to contract. This limits dynamic and static muscle movement in desirable ways. Botox results in a more youthful and refreshed appearance when used for medical aesthetics. The combination of dentistry and Botox treatments, however, is a great solution for the following:
Bruxism:
Also known as teeth-grinding, bruxism can lead to more long-term dental problems such as jaw pain, headaches, and tooth damage. Botox for bruxism prevents the clenching of your jaw muscles, and can be extremely relieving combined with other dental interventions like a night-guard.
Crooked Smile:
Botox around the mouth can reshape an asymmetrical smile by altering lip placement. This simple treatment can help with improving dental hygiene by making it easier to access difficult spots for flossing and brushing, and also boost confidence!
Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ):
TMJ affects the mandible, which is the joint connecting the jawbone to the skull. People with TMJ may experience mild to moderate pain in the joint, general clicking or popping noises in the jaw, and discomfort while chewing. Botox treatments for TMJ relax these tight joint muscles around the jaw, and prevent further discomfort.
Headaches and Migraines:
Botox can help reduce chronic headaches and migraines. Chronic headaches are often compounded with TMJ or bruxism.
Gummy Smiles:
Botox placement around the upper lip can be used to treat excessive gingival display, or exposure of gum tissue.
Do Dentists Need to be Certified to Administer Botox?
Botox-training for dentists is integral to merging the worlds of Botox and dentistry. Even though dentists are highly specialized in the cosmetic knowledge of muscles around the mouth and lower face – provincial rules vary. All provinces require appropriate education and competence; some (e.g., Alberta, Nova Scotia) set formal standards and certification/credentialing requirements. In Canada, governing provincial bodies set the regulations for the administration of Botox and fillers in dentistry. In Ontario, dentists may inject neuromodulators intra-orally for therapeutic or cosmetic purposes, and extra-orally for therapeutic purposes only (not cosmetic), provided they are appropriately trained and competent. The RCDSO also expects dentists to successful complete recognized training that instructs on proper Botox-injection techniques.
About CAMA’s Botox & Filler Courses:
If you are looking to expand your dentistry practice by enrolling in Botox-training for dentists, the Canadian Association of Medical Aesthetics (CAMA) offers several options. CAMA is the first educational and training institution in Canada to establish a formalized training for non-surgical medical aesthetics. We deliver world-class training and instruct our students using cutting-edge evidence-based techniques.
Here are some courses to consider, if your practice is interested in using Botox for treating dental problems:
2-Day Neuromodulators and Dermal Filler Training – Basic Course for Physicians
This course serves as a prerequisite for the Advanced Course. This course includes Botox-training for dentists, and develops the foundational skills and theory needed for the use of Botox and fillers. CAMA provides students with all pre-course materials, and students then participate in a combination of self-paced study, and over 15-hours of practical hands-on training. Topics of study include an introduction to aesthetic medicine, the aging process and its effects on facial anatomy, an introduction to neuromodulators and fillers, and management of adverse effects.
2-Day Neuromodulators and Dermal Filler Training – Advanced Course for Physicians
This course covers Botox-training for dentists who are interested in refining their skills when administering Botox or filler injections. CAMA provides students with all pre-course materials, and students then participate in a combination of self-paced study, and over 15-hours of practical hands-on training. Topics of study include facial assessments and understanding the causes of volume loss or wrinkling, facial sculpting, and recognition and management of adverse effects.
Comprehensive Preceptorship Program
This course offers personalized 1:1 hands-on experience, where you will work directly under the supervision of an experienced injectables trainer. We’ll work with you to schedule live-injections sessions based on your practice needs. We are available to book your 1:1 training sessions at our Ontario locations in Mississauga, Thornhill, and Burlington, or at our Alberta location in Calgary.
