Many patients may not consider visiting a cosmetic dentist at first when it comes to skin treatments, but the American Dental Association reports that more than 50% of dentists are now offering spa treatments in their offices. A cosmetic dentist is a great professional to visit for facial treatments since he or she understands how underlying oral anatomy can affect one's appearance. Here are three rejuvenating facial treatments that you may want to try.

Botox

Botox treatments are derived from botulinum toxin, an anaerobic bacterium that can cause muscles to relax. Dentists can use Botox injections around the lips, cheeks, and forehead to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Besides being used for cosmetic purposes by dentists, Botox injections can also help functional dental problems, like bruxism or mandibular spasms. Botox injections are a non-invasive way to improve the appearance of your skin without needing to resort to surgery.

Perioral Augmentation

Perioral augmentation typically involves dermal fillers in and around the mouth. This type of facial treatment can be good for patients who are losing volume in their lips or have nasolabial creases. DentistryIQ says that cosmetic dentists may be more ideal professionals for this procedure than other cosmetic consultants because they have a better idea of how teeth work in relation to the lips. The same article states that some patients come in wanting a certain type of lip filler, but they may leave disappointed because the lip shape that they want doesn't necessarily work well with their underlying teeth or facial shape. Cosmetic dentists understand the ideal ratios of different oral features—like the cupid's bow, philtrum, vermilion border, etc.—and can help patients optimize their perioral aesthetics with dermal fillers.

Non-Surgical Facelifts

Cosmetic dentists who offer non-surgical facelifts focus on fixing misaligned bites to enhance the overlying skin. For example, an overbite can create the appearance of sunken cheeks or wrinkles. An open bite can give the appearance of an overly long face or a weak jaw. During a non-invasive facelift, your cosmetic dentist will attach transcutaneous electrodes to facial muscles to help your jaw relax. Once facial muscles are relaxed, your dentist will help guide your teeth into a more ideal position. He or she will take an impression of this ideal position so that a splint can be made. This splint will help to retrain your bite, and in turn, facial wrinkles and asymmetry should improve. If this splint isn't enough, then your cosmetic dentist might recommend crowns, braces, or other procedures to help improve the bite.   

For more information on cosmetic dental treatments, contact a professional near you.