Publication:

Botulinum toxin: a boon or bane in dentistry

Botulinum toxin is a neurotoxin which is produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacteria. It is an anaerobic, gram-positive, spore-forming rod-shaped bacteria which is commonly found in soil, on plants, in water and in the intestinal tracts of animals. All the serotypes of botulinum toxin interfere with neural transmission by blocking the release of acetylcholine. The use of botulinum toxins has revolutionised the treatment of various ophthalmic spastic disorders, Orofacial pain conditions, facial dystonia and periocular wrinkles. A precise knowledge and understanding of the functional anatomy of the mimetic muscles is absolutely necessary to correctly use botulinum toxins in clinical practice. This article is an effort to understand Botulinum toxin and its applications in head and neck.