CONTACT US:

469 Medical Drive Suite 200 Bountiful, Utah (801) 292-5812

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Botox and Salt Lake Tribune Article: Could Botox be coming soon to a dentist near you?


Paul Fraughton | Salt Lake Tribune Dr. Jordan Davis injects his patient Janet Staples with Botox. Janet works as the office manager at Dr. Davis's dental clinic but is also a patient. Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Could Botox be coming soon to a dentist near you?
Cosmetic dentistry » Utah dentists starting to use the neurotoxin to ease jaw pain, but are barred from using it cosmetically.
First Published Jun 22 2013 01:01 am • Last Updated Jun 22 2013 08:14 pm
When Wade Paxman is stressed, he clenches and grinds his teeth.
The conventional treatment, mouth guards, protect his enamel but don’t ease his jaw pain or crushing headaches. Recently, however, the 53-year-old found relief in a drug most commonly used to rid middle-aged women of unwanted wrinkles: Botox.
"It’s just magic. I love it," said Paxman, who drives from Brigham City to Bountiful every six months for treatment. "I’m saving my teeth and enjoying better health. It’s as simple as that."
The off-label use of Botox to treat jaw tension and pain is experimental and just catching on in Utah. A few oral surgeons use it therapeutically; Paxman was only able to find one dentist who offers it.
But growing interest in the drug’s dental applications is forcing debate over whether dentists should use it cosmetically.
Utah law is vague and says dentists can administer and prescribe drugs "related to and appropriate in the practice of dentistry."
In 2008, the licensing board defined that to include Botox, but only for therapeutic reasons. Cosmetic uses — injecting it for a wrinkle-free brow or smile — are off limits, the board declared.
Utah dentists aren’t exactly clamoring to add Botox to their smile makeover repertoire of teeth whitening and veneers. Oral surgeons have free rein to use it.
And, for now, the Utah Dentist and Dental Hygienist Licensing Board isn’t inclined to revisit the rules for dentists, despite lobbying this spring by Allergan, the maker of Botox.
"They wanted us to commit to the fact that a general dentist can order Botox and said otherwise we won’t sell to dentists, period," said the board’s chairman Rich Radmall, a dentist in Ogden. "The board hasn’t taken a stand. We’re cautious to change anything categorically without knowing the full ramifications."
Radmall is on the fence. "I imagine there’s growing interest in Botox by younger dentists coming out of school. It’s kind of like sleep dentistry. Everyone was a little afraid of it, and proceeded with caution. Now sedation is a mainstream tool," he said.The dentistry board in Massachusetts approved a policy last March, allowing general dentists to administer botulinum toxins and other injectable wrinkle reducers, called dermal fillers, joining 20 other states with similar rules, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). Key to the decision was growing interest by academics in Boston’s dental schools, the ADA says.
But changing regulations would require further study and legislation, he said. "As a board we talked about there needing to be some kind of training requirement."
Others argue Botox injections are well within a dentist’s scope of practice.
Dentists inject local anesthetic into patients’ cheeks and gums. And they’re free to administer "Botox Therapeutic," which is the same product in different packaging.
Botox is the same neurotoxic protein that, in large doses, causes botulism, a rare paralyzing illness often linked to food poisoning. In rare cases, it can spread beyond the injection site and cause paralysis, according to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.
But side effects are generally temporary, since Botox wears off.
"A Botox injection is a Botox injection, whether you’re using it to treat pain or reducing wrinkles, it’s still the same risk," said Paxman’s dentist, Jordan Davis, who underwent a year of oral surgery training in dental school that covered Botox and dermal fillers.
"Our practice is a cosmetic practice, so it would be pretty cool to use dermal fillers to really enhance patients’ smiles," he said.
For now, though, he uses Botox on a sparingly few patients with severe jaw clenching and grinding, called bruxism.
Davis gauges the dose, or number of units, according to a patient’s size and severity of their grinding, generally injecting the Botox into the jaw and temple.
The drug "tames" the muscles, he said. "I usually start pretty low and have them come back within a few weeks to see how it’s working."
Botox won’t fix temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ), such as arthritis or dislocations, but for patients such as Paxman, it’s "a blessing," Davis said.
Before Botox, Paxman said he woke nearly every morning with a "bad" headache. "As you can imagine, it’s not a good way to live," he said.
His jaw muscles don’t feel weak or numb after treatment, he said. "It’s not like novocaine."
Davis charges Paxman $10 a unit; the last treatment totalled $450.
"But I’d pay $2,000," Paxman said. "It’s hard to describe what a difference it’s made for me. It’s a quality-of-life issue."
Twitter: @kirstendstewart

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

DAVIS DENTAL ON FACEBOOK




 FOLLOW US: https://www.facebook.com/davisdentalutah

Recent Posts by Others on Davis Dental:

Neelma SiddiquiDr Davis is professional and courteous. I would blindly trust him with all my dental needs. You're the best Dr Davis!1 · April 6 at 9:59am


  • Shawn CareyI enjoy the great dental care given at Davis Dental, I just can't seem to stay away!11 · April 4 at 12:11am



  • Leonard McGeeGreat job by your staff on my cleaning the other day! Tandem was very pleasant, very efficient and very painless. It was great the way she talked through every part of the procedure with me so that I understood what was happening.31 · March 28 at 10:58pm



  • Cyrus GolkarI wish you were in Silicon Valley area, so that I would have the pleasure of receiving your great dental services.21 · March 27 at 12:43am








Sclar Center's All-on-4® Immediate Function Course

It's Unanimous!

98% of the Sclar Center's 
All-on-4® Immediate Function Course Participants remarked that this was the best course they ever attended and they felt empowered to implement what they learned!
Register for our next All-on-4® Course
November 17-19, 2013
Don't delay only 7 seats Left!

Who Should Attend:
Restorative dentist, specialists, laboratory technicians
and interdisciplinary team members

Course Synopsis 
Learn the prosthetic, surgical and laboratory proceduresrequired to predictably provide All-on-4® solution for full arch immediate loading for your patients. Learn case selectioncriteria, risk factors, treatment planning & avoid complications
Live Procedure Observations
Surgery, prosthetic, lab conversion and prosthesis delivery
Hands on Training
Surgeryprosthetic, lab conversion and prosthesis delivery
 Recent All-on-4® Course Testimonials
"As a surgeon, I was of course interested in the surgical technique involved in All-on-4 implant treatment, however I also wanted information and hands-on training on the prosthetic, restorative techniques, this was the only course that offered the whole package!" Dr. Charles Chilcoat
"I would recommend this course to anyone interested in the All-on-4 technique, both surgeon and restorative dentist.  Dr. Sclar and Dr. Cardenas provide unbiased, evidence-based scientific information on the subject."  Dr. Jordan Davis 
"The course is well organized and thorough. This is one course which will enable the participating clinician to execute an All-on-4 case in a precise and definitive manner."  Dr. Ernest Orphanos 
"Great sharing and tranfer of knowledge with real-time performance of surgical management." Dr. Vincent Carey

"Great presentation demonstrating the marriage of the surgical & restorative components of the All-on-4 protocol.  An unparalleled educational experience." 
Dr. Euger Lin 
"Excellent course, no questions about the All-on-4 concept were left unanswered ornot addressed." Dr. Kenyon Fort 
"This Course is impressive, it allows you to leave with knowledge you can implement in your practice immediately.  This course is a must for all team members to attend."  Dr. Piyush Patel
"This course gave me great knowledge of the principles of Immediate Loading with Hands-on Experience. Highly recommend it!" Dr. Edgar Pichardo

"The ability to witness live surgery was invaluable. Questions asked and answered in real time."  Dr. Phillip McIver

"An Absolute must for Oral Surgeons, restorative dentists and Lab Technicians to seamlessly deliver a complex All-on-Four procedure. 
Well worth the trip!"  Dr. Stuart Youmans

"One of the Best Courses I have Ever Taken"  Dr. Michael Kolodychak

Click here for more information about our Immediate Function Course
>Click here to register for the November 17-19, 2013 course

>Click here to see our courses.
For more information or phone
registration, call Dake Schwarte
at the Sclar Center today!

305-913-2467