Application of Botulinum toxin Type A: An arsenal in dentistry.
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Date
2011-05
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Abstract
An extremely effective way of preventing damage to and enhancing treatment of dental hard tissues and restorations would be to ''de-programme'' the muscles responsible for excessive destructive forces and other gnathological-related diseases. The new paradigm is the intramuscular injection of Botulinum toxin type A (BOTOX) into the affected muscles. It is a natural protein produced by anaerobic bacterium, Clostridium botulinum. The toxin inhibits the release of acetylcholine (ACH), a neurotransmitter responsible for the activation of muscle contraction and glandular secretion, and its administration results in reduction of tone in the injected muscle. There are seven distinct serotypes of Botulinum toxin, viz., A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, which differ in their potency, duration of action, and cellular target sites. This paper describes the different applications of BOTOX in dentistry.
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Keywords
Botulinum toxin type A, masticatory muscle hypertonicity, pharmaceutical splint, temporomandibular disorder
Citation
Rao Lakshmana B, Sangur Rajashekar, Pradeep S. Application of Botulinum toxin Type A: An arsenal in dentistry. Indian Journal of Dental Research. 2011 May-Jun; 22(3): 440-445.