Should I See a Dentist for Botox?

Having choices is a wonderful thing. But if you’ve ever stood in the shampoo aisle feeling your eyes cross at the myriad choices... it helps you realize that it’s good to have a basis for the decisions you make. And when it comes to making really important decisions, like those regarding your health, information is key. Below is some information about why you should consider seeing a dentist for Botox therapy.

What Exactly is Botox anyway?

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons defines Botox as: The cosmetic form of botulinum toxin, sometimes referred to as "Botox" by patients, is a popular injectable that temporarily reduces or eliminates facial fine lines and wrinkles. 

According to the Mayo Clinic:

“Botox injections are shots that use a toxin to prevent a muscle from moving for a limited time. These shots are often used to smooth wrinkles on the face. They're also used to treat neck spasms, sweating, overactive bladder, lazy eye and other conditions. Botox shots also may help prevent migraine.

The medicine in Botox injections is made from the same toxin that causes a type of food poisoning called botulism. But the forms of purified botulinum toxin used by licensed health care providers meet medical control standards. These standards were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. As a rule, the bacteria toxins used for medical purposes are not harmful if used correctly.”

Mayo further points out that: Botox is a prescription medicine and must be used only under the care of a licensed and skilled health care provider. 

Why Might I choose to do Botox?

As Mayo points out, these injections can be used to help treat conditions such as migraine headaches. It is also used by dental professionals, in particular, to help patients with the pain associated with temporomandibular joint issues, often referred to as TMJ. Many people choose Botox for cosmetic purposes such as to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles on the face. People also may choose to try Botox as a preventive to help lessen chances of facial lines developing in the first place.

Why Would Teuscher Legacy Dental’s Dr Riley Teuscher be a good choice for Botox? 

Knowledge and Training:

After 4 years of pre-med biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology, Dr. Riley studied 4 additional years in these sciences applied to dentistry. His education involved extensive study of the nerves, muscles and blood vessels of the face, head and neck. Few professions undergo this level of intense training on the anatomy of these specific areas, and very few professionals actually use this education on a daily basis the way a dentist does. Dr. Riley also chose additional advanced training to become certified by the American Academy of Facial Esthetics specifically on the benefits, risks, comfortable administration, and aesthetic outcomes related to Botox® injections.

Experience:

As a dentist, Dr. Riley has vast experience in providing comfortable and accurate facial area injections. The depth and precision of an injection matters, the dosage matters, and the ability to consistently monitor your comfort and response matters, so it’s important that your caregiver is accomplished in these areas. And because people can be a bit anxious when it comes to injections, it’s essential that you choose a professional who has perfected the intricate technique of giving gentle and comfortable injections by doing this dozens of times every single day. You’d be hard-pressed to find any licensed healthcare professional who has more experience giving expert facial-area injections.

Appreciation for Aesthetics:

In addition to advanced training and experience evaluating facial aesthetics, Dr. Riley is skilled in helping patients assess their own unique facial qualities. By evaluating more than just a targeted spot but by also considering your entire facial structure, he can assist you in understanding how even minor changes can affect your overall appearance – as well as how these changes might affect your ability to smile, express, or even chew comfortably and effectively. When it comes to facial cosmetic injections, you want to choose an experienced professional with this sort of keen eye for detail, function, comfort, and beautiful aesthetics. 

Conclusion

So if you’re considering Botox, information is key. Be sure to understand the importance of having facial injections administered by a professional who has knowledge, training, experience, and skill, as well as an acute appreciation for the results you’re hoping to achieve.

Give our office a call at 630-762-0000 to reserve time with Dr. Riley. He’ll be happy to help!

New Building!

 As of August 1st, we are seeing patients in our new facility!

Thanks to our wonderful patients, our practice has grown – and we are grateful for this blessing! We thought a lot about the limitations of our former space and what an ideal space would look like to continue providing excellent care far into the future.

Finally, last winter we found a building that checked all our boxes.

And, it was literally right across the street! Here are a few benefits of the new space to be excited about:

Our new reception area

• More parking

• Advanced air filtration system for infection control

• Increased privacy in our checkout area and treatment rooms

• State of the art technology

• More space in our reception area

The past year we’ve spent countless hours researching, designing, and planning. Finally, in February, construction was underway!

We cant wait to see you in our new digs!

The new address is:

40W131 Campton Crossings Drive

St Charles, Illinois 60175

And when we say it’s just across the street, we mean it literally!

Google says the distance is only 300 yards away… We cant wait to see you in our new digs soon!

For more photos of the build progress and other TLD Team updates, check our Facebook page.

COVID-19 Update

The NEWS is continuously changing, particularly with regard to COVID-19 / “Coronavirus.” We are serious about safety and health. Here are the precautions we have in place to help keep our staff and you safe from COVID. Please know that Teuscher Legacy Dental is always monitoring the most up-to-date news, alerts, and safety precautions. What will NOT change is our ongoing commitment to YOU. The needs of our patients are our #1 priority, including your interests, comfort and safety. We are now open for all dental procedures. If you have any questions, you can always give us a call or text.

Summer 2022 update:

As a part of our move to our new office, we have made several technological updates to keep you as safe as possible! One of the most important is our state of the art air filtration system. When we designed our new office, we were able to leverage the latest thinking in infection control coming out of the COVID years. Our air filtration is as safe as it gets!

This spring we had an OSHA consultant review our infection control procedures and affirm our processes.

In addition to the latest sanitation technology, products and procedures, our new office has private operatories. This means enhanced privacy for you, but importantly, also means any aerosol we generate in one room will not travel to adjacent rooms. Put simply, other people’s germs will stay in their own rooms so you won’t have to wonder about cross-contamination.

Per CDC and IDPH recommendations, we still ask that patients wear masks in our office. Please help us love and protect others by masking during your visit. Thank you!

March 16th, 2021:

Last week, we brought in a leading expert on infectious diseases and infection control

The expert checked out our facilities and talked in depth with our staff. Not only were we reassured that our sterilization and sanitation measures are the best in the business, but we were also told that the products we use – which effectively kill concerns such as HIV and Hepatitis – also kill the relatively weaker Coronavirus COVID-19. 

May 12th, 2020:

The Illinois Department of Public Health has advised that Illinois Dental practices are fully open for all procedures.

We are now open!

Your well-being is always our top priority. We are committed to be the safest possible office and environment for both our patients and team. For more information, check out our dedicated COVID-19 Update page.

May 4th:

In following Illinois’s “Shelter in Place” modified extension, we are planning to officially reopen our office on June 1st.

Our team is working hard during this time to learn and plan for a safe and successful return. We are getting everything ready: PPE protocols, pre-appointment coronavirus screenings, staggered scheduling to reduce the number of people in the office at a given time, antibiotic mouth washes, and innovative suction systems to eliminate aerosols, just to name a few.  We will be posting more updates soon about how we’ll be back ready to serve you better than before! 

Our team will always try to accommodate patients with emergencies and other time-sensitive needs. We are monitoring our phones every day, so if you have any questions or concerns, give us a call!

As always, we are paying close attention to the guidance of the CDC, ADA, ISDS and Illinois government. We hope you and your family are well and look forward to seeing you soon!

March 26th:

We’re living in interesting times! To protect our patients and team and to honor our medical colleagues’ requests, we have suspended all routine dental care until April 8th. This is in line with Illinois’s “Shelter in Place” order, as well as guidelines from the ADA and ISDS. We are still seeing emergency patients.

To protect our patients and team, and to honor our medical colleagues’ requests, we have suspended all routine dental care until April 8th.

Remember: if you are experiencing pain, swelling, or have another urgent need, we will still take care of you. If you have any questions or concerns, please give us a call or text. We are monitoring our phones daily.

In the meantime, our team is using this as an opportunity to learn new skills and improve our current systems. We’ve also been able to enjoy a little more downtime to relax with some of our favorite hobbies. To see some of what we’ve been up to, check out our Facebook page.

Be safe, be healthy, be Blessed!

March 23rd:

To protect our patients and team, and to honor our medical colleagues’ requests, we have suspended all routine dental care at this time.

This is in line with the ADA, ISDS, and other health organizations, in addition to the recent “Shelter in Place” protocol. We will keep you informed, but in the meantime, we will offer care on an emergency basis only. The ADA defines a dental emergency in great detail, but if you are experiencing pain, swelling, or have another urgent need, we will be sure to take care of you.

If you or your family have any questions or concerns, please call us, as we continue to monitor our phones. From all of us at Teuscher Dental, be safe and be healthy!

March 18th:

We are making decisions on a daily basis based on the best information we can receive from credible sources in dentistry and medicine, along with the CDC and WHO. The health of the people who trust us for their and their families’ care, and the health of our team and their families is TOO important to take risks with non-essential procedures.

Be sure to contact us for emergency situations and for any questions that anybody might have. Elective dental procedures, including most hygiene procedures, are postponed until next Monday and will be rescheduled. Again, if you are experiencing pain or have any questions, please call us. We appreciate your understanding and willingness to make this sacrifice with us as we all do everything that we can to ensure public well-being.

What we are doing in light of recent news:

• We have always been dedicated to exceeding even the most stringent OSHA protocols for maintaining a sterile environment.

• For patients who have appointments, we are screening for illness risk factors such as recent travel to foreign countries and any current or recent symptoms.

• We are choosing to remove from our reception areas items that are frequently touched, such as magazines, pens and our coffee machine.

• In addition to our sterilization procedures in each operatory before and after every patient, we are also committed to disinfecting our reception and restroom areas twice an hour – including all door handles, faucet handles and light switches.

What you can do while you are here:

• Please sanitize your hands when you arrive, using hand sanitizer dispensers we have provided for you.

• We also request that you use the provided hand sanitizer dispenser as you check out at our front desk.

What we can ALL do:

• Wash our hands frequently. Soap and water is best.

• We’ve probably all heard not to touch our faces, including eyes, nose and mouth. But if we MUST touch our face, it is best to wash or sanitize our hands both before AND afterward.

• Resist touching our faces with (or chewing on) pens, pencils, fingernails.

• Cover a sneeze or cough with our inner elbow (if possible) or a tissue.

• Avoid touching often-touched items, and wash hands after touching these things, also sanitize these things at home if possible: door knobs, faucet handles, toilet handles, light switches, remote controls, refrigerator and other appliance handles, buttons like on elevators and cash machines or check-out registers, even your cell phone, computer and your vehicle’s steering wheel.

• Avoid shaking hands or having close contact with others who are sick.

• Stay home and away from others if we feel sick, and call a physician for advice.

• Get plenty of rest, eat properly, drink plenty of fluids, do our best to stay healthy.

AND, PLEASE, LET’S ALL:

Remember that we can always safely “touch” others with a smile, a kind encouragement, an act of kindness, prayer and compassionate humanity.

Stay calm and use wisdom rather than give in to irrational fear. What we are facing can be scary, for sure, but let’s face it with heart, community, sensitivity and grace.

The Six Most Common Questions Parents Ask About Baby Teeth

There’s more to baby teeth than you may think! Read below to get answers to the most common questions we encounter from parents- along with inside information about the Tooth Fairy and some bonus cute pictures of young Brayden and Riley!

Do baby teeth matter?

The short answer is Yes. Baby teeth start forming during the sixth week of pregnancy at the same time their neural tube is developing and limbs are beginning to bud. Usually it is the front four teeth that we first start to see at around six months during the dreaded “teething” stage. The discomfort kids have during teething is usually just irritated gums from the teeth erupting. By age three, most children have all 20 baby teeth erupted and functioning in their mouths. Like adult teeth, baby teeth are used for chewing, speaking, and smiling. But they are smaller and spaced further apart than adult teeth, so they also play an important role in maintaining space for the permanent teeth to come in. So if a baby tooth is lost or knocked out of the mouth prematurely, sometimes there are orthodontic consequences for that child’s future. Childhood cavities are the most common chronic disease of childhood– four times more common than asthma. In fact, the data shows that 21% of kids aged two through five and 51% aged six through eleven have tooth decay. There’s a good chance your little one is one of those!

They are gonna fall out anyways. Why brush?

Good question. Like we discussed above, they serve a similar purpose to adult teeth. However, it is important to note that baby teeth have less enamel than adult teeth. This means that when decay is present, it progresses much more quickly than in an adult tooth. As with a normal cavity, a bacterial infection in baby teeth will typically spread from the tooth down the root and eventually into the bone and gums. This is especially concerning since a permanent tooth is developing beneath the baby one! Even a tiny cavity in a tiny baby tooth can cause a lot of pain for your little one.

We do know a sugary diet contributes to dental caries progression- but what we haven’t heard of yet is any kid without a sweet tooth! (pun intended) “Baby bottle caries” is actually a thing- where children may drink a sugary drink right before bedtime, and the sugar remains in their mouth while they sleep, giving bacteria ample time to feed and proliferate. Interestingly, bacteria can ferment the lactose in breastmilk, but studies have indicated that breastfeeding may actually protect against dental caries. Like we already mentioned, losing a tooth early can have spacing implications for expensive orthodontic treatment down the road. This in addition to the obvious speech, eating, and esthetic problems associated with missing a tooth. And at a young age, when confidence is so critical to personal and social development, we want to keep every tooth we can!

How picky is the tooth fairy?

Ever noticed how when baby teeth come out, they don’t have roots? That’s because as the adult tooth forms underneath the baby tooth, it pushes near the baby tooth’s root causing it to resorb. So we can truly say the baby tooth “falls out”, because it no longer has a root attaching it to the underlying bone or gums. Luckily, last we checked, the tooth fairy accepts baby teeth, resorbed roots and all. Usually the first baby teeth to erupt are the front four on both the top and bottom starting around six months, and those are usually the first to fall out also at around age six or seven.

When is the best time to brush?

A simple way to help prevent dental problems is teach your child good brushing habits. The best time to brush is right before bed, so that teeth are nice and clean prior to our longest period of inactivity. Research has shown that our saliva flow decreases at night time possibly due to circadian rhythms and mouth breathing. In either case, this dry mouth means less saliva to rinse our teeth of existing bacteria. All the more reason to brush right before bed!

Further, when we use a fluoride toothpaste, brushing before bed gives fluoride the longest time to act and remineralize your teeth. Keep in mind though, that kids under the age of 3 should only use a smear or rice sized kernel of toothpaste before age three, and a pea sized lump after age three, even for adults. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Dental Association, and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists recommend fluoride toothpaste even for the youngest children. While fluoride does help strengthen teeth, care should be taken that the child does not swallow the toothpaste, but rather spits it out afterward. Excessive fluoride ingestion at younger ages is associated with dental fluorosis, but the ADA states that if it only remains topically on the tooth surfaces, it will not cause any systemic issue.

Should my child floss?

While right before bed is the BEST time for brushing, after breakfast or other times a day is good too. But flossing? For most kids with baby teeth, if they aren’t touching there isn’t as big a need to floss (assuming you are brushing). In adults the teeth contact each other, allowing food and other debris to be caught in between them, in particular in the gums between the teeth. Since baby teeth are spaced further apart, often this is not as big an issue for them. However, their back teeth in particular may be touching, in which case flossing is still important. Sometimes it’s hard for little ones to floss by themselves though, so we recommend parents help. In general, we say the most important skill for kids to conquer is brushing. Once they are brushing masters, then they can begin flossing for themselves. We still recommend flossing for adults though (No excuses mom!)

When should kids have their first dental appointment?

The ADA and the AAPD advise children have their first dental appointment within six months after their first tooth erupts, or no later than the child’s first birthday. We’ve found that a great way to start may be simply bringing your child along for your next cleaning. They can come back with you and watch for a little while, maybe ride the chair up and down a few times, then get excited for their first appointment when they can be examined “just like mom and dad”. It’s helpful to introduce them to our staff and office so that when its their turn, they are comfortable!

For kids we do many of the same things we do for adults- prophylactic cleaning, exam, and possibly topical fluoride. What is slightly different for children is that we try to limit X-ray exposure as much as possible, and we are especially watchful for correct orthodontic development. A child’s first appointment is a great time for them to ask questions and become comfortable with Dr. Teuscher and our friendly staff. Our team loves kids, and with four of his own, Dr. Teuscher is wonderful with children and parents alike. We’d love to see your whole family!

Not convinced yet?

If all that isn’t enough, we have a pretty cool treasure box of toys to take home after the visit.  We also have games, books, toys, and a Nintendo in our reception area… And unlimited coffee or tea for our tired parents!

What are your questions?

What other questions do you have about your child’s teeth and taking the best possible care of them? Give us a call with any questions or post them below and we will answer. We are always happy to help, and hope to see you soon!