Application of Botulinum toxin in orthodontics

Lee,  Jong-Suk; Kim,  Seong-Taek

J Korean Dent Assoc > Volume 48(12); 2010 > Article

The Journal of The Korean Dental Association 2010;48(12):889-892.
Published online December 31, 2010.

교정치료 영역에서 보툴리눔 독소의 적용

이종석¹, 김성택²

^¹고우넷 하모니치과의원
^²연세대학교 치과대학 구강내과학교실

Application of Botulinum toxin in orthodontics

Jong-Suk Lee¹, Seong-Taek Kim²

¹Gonet Harmony Dental clinic
²Department of Oral medicine, Yonsei university dental college

Abstract

Botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A), a potent neurotoxin that reversibly blocks presynaptic acetylcholine release, has been applied successfully to treat facial spastic conditions such as blepharospasm, strabismus and cervical dystonia. Since the first reported application in dentistry in 1994, BTX-A has been used with great success to used in the orofacial region to help treat masticatory and facial muscle spasm, severe bruxism, facial tics, and hypertrophy of the masticatory muscles. The clinician may be aware of the many courses becoming available and aimed at dentists to start using it in the cosmetic context. This article intends to provide a basic understanding of the many functional uses of the drug in the orofacial region that may be relevant to everyday practice, especially in orthodontic field.

Key Words: botulinum toxin;orthodontics;