What to Know About Dermal Fillers Offered by Your Marco Island Dentist
If you’re familiar with dermal fillers, you might be surprised to see them offered by dental practices. As a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure designed to reduce signs of aging, a dermal filler is commonly offered by plastic surgery practices and medical spas. So, why would a dentist offer this treatment?
Because Island Tower Dentistry’s Dr. Jonathan Van Dyke offers cosmetic dermal fillers to his Marco Island, Florida-area patients, he is uniquely qualified to answer this question. Read on to learn more:
What Exactly Are Dermal Fillers?
Dermal fillers are formulations injected into the deeper skin layers to add volume underneath wrinkles, creases, and fine lines and plump up the underlying skin. In addition to adding volume and fullness to the skin, many dermal fillers contain ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, that stimulate collagen production and moisture retention.
While people sometimes refer to Botox as a “dermal filler,” it is a neuromodulator that relaxes muscles underneath the skin, easing the depth and appearance of dynamic wrinkles and lines in the overlying skin.
The age-defying effectiveness of dermal fillers and neuromodulators like Botox has made them the most popular minimally invasive cosmetic procedure in America, with more than 50 million patients treated over the past decade.
How Dentists Adopted the Use of Dermal Fillers
Prior to adopting dermal fillers for cosmetic purposes, dentists were using Botox injections to help provide relief from temporomandibular joint (TMJ) symptoms. By relaxing the muscles around the mouth and jaw, dentists could reduce the strain that causes headaches and jaw pain in TMJ patients without resorting to an uncomfortable mouth guard. Dentists also discovered that Botox could help reduce the appearance of gummy smiles by controlling a muscle that allows the upper lips to move too high.
With the emergence of dermal fillers this decade, dentists discovered that they could also be used to help correct a gummy smile. Dentists also started using dermal fillers to fill in unsightly black triangle spaces caused between anterior teeth by gingival recession. This early dental use of Botox and dermal fillers naturally led dental professionals to expand their cosmetic usage.
Why Choose a Dentist for My Dermal Filler?
Dentists are uniquely suited to provide cosmetic dermal filler options to their patients for several reasons. With years of extensive training, dentists have a detailed understanding of facial anatomy and the muscular dynamics involved in making facial expressions. Combined with a detailed familiarity with facial symmetry, this gives a dentist keen understanding of where and how to deliver dermal fillers to ensure optimal aesthetic results.
Their injection delivery is also well-practiced due to training and routine in-office use of injectable anesthetics. This allows dentists to inject dermal fillers with the least discomfort possible safely. And for those patients with an especially low pain threshold, the dentist can offer anesthesia or sedation.
Consider Adding a Dermal Filler to a Smile Makeover
If you’ve decided to undergo a smile makeover, you might want to consider enhancing it with dermal fillers if you’re starting to have concerns about age-related wrinkles, lines, and loss of skin volume. That whiter and more symmetric smile will shine even brighter when framed by the smooth and youthful-looking skin induced by dermal fillers.
Learn More About Dermal Fillers at Island Tower Dentistry
Dr. Van Dyke primarily offers Juvederm injectable fillers to his southwest Florida-area patients, as they have proven especially effective at reducing deep-seated smile lines and vertical lip lines. To learn more about dermal fillers and other cosmetic dentistry options or address any oral health issues, contact Island Tower Dentistry today at 239-394-1004.