Facial & Therapeutic Treatments
Botulinum toxin therapy at Aria addresses jaw pain, teeth grinding, and facial esthetic concerns — offered to select patients following a thorough evaluation by Dr. Kevin Guzman.
Important: Botulinum toxin therapy at Aria is available to select patients only, following a thorough in-person evaluation. Individual results vary. This page is for informational purposes and does not constitute a treatment recommendation. A consultation is required to determine your candidacy.
What Is Botulinum Toxin Therapy?
Botulinum toxin is a purified protein that, when precisely injected into specific muscle groups, temporarily reduces muscle activity. In a dental context, this has powerful therapeutic and esthetic applications — from quieting an overworked jaw muscle causing chronic pain, to refining the way a smile presents.
At Aria Dental Implant Center, botulinum toxin therapy is performed by Dr. Kevin Guzman, who holds certification in botulinum toxin therapy and brings specialized training in facial anatomy and injection technique. Treatment is available to select patients following a complete evaluation to confirm that the condition and patient profile are appropriate for this treatment.
Applications
Each application below is available to select patients following evaluation. Candidacy depends on the specific condition, your anatomy, and your health history.
Chronic jaw pain related to temporomandibular joint dysfunction is often driven by overactivity of the masseter — the powerful chewing muscle running along the side of the jaw. When this muscle is chronically contracted or hyperactive, it creates tension that radiates through the jaw, face, and neck.
For select patients whose pain pattern is appropriate for this treatment, botulinum toxin injected into the masseter can measurably reduce muscle force, providing relief from pain, tension headaches, and jaw fatigue. An evaluation is required to determine whether TMJ symptoms have a muscular component that is suited to this approach.
Select patients · Evaluation requiredBruxism — the habit of grinding or clenching teeth — places enormous force on teeth, implants, and restorations. Left unmanaged, it accelerates wear, causes fractures, and can compromise implant treatment outcomes. Night guards help protect surfaces but do not address the underlying muscle activity.
Botulinum toxin injections into the masseter reduce the force of grinding and clenching at the source. This is particularly relevant for implant patients: protecting your investment in new teeth starts with controlling the forces acting on them. Treatment is available to select patients following evaluation and is often used alongside traditional protective approaches.
Select patients · Evaluation requiredA gummy smile — technically called excessive gingival display — occurs when the upper lip elevates higher than desired during smiling, exposing a significant amount of gum tissue above the teeth. It is one of the most common esthetic concerns patients raise when discussing their smile.
For select patients whose gummy smile is caused by hyperactive lip elevator muscles, botulinum toxin can be placed precisely to reduce upper lip elevation during a smile — resulting in a more balanced, proportionate presentation of teeth and gum. This approach is effective only when the cause is muscular; an evaluation is required to confirm that your gummy smile is an appropriate candidate for this treatment.
Select patients · Evaluation requiredForehead lines, frown lines between the brows (glabellar lines), crow's feet around the eyes, and perioral (lip) lines are all driven by repeated facial muscle contractions over time. When these muscles are relaxed with small, precise doses of botulinum toxin, the skin above them smooths — reducing the appearance of dynamic expression lines.
Dr. Guzman's certification and training in facial anatomy positions him to perform these injections with precision. For patients who are candidates, facial esthetic botulinum toxin can be combined conveniently with your care at Aria — reducing the need for separate appointments with a separate provider. Individual results vary; a consultation is required.
Select patients · Evaluation requiredExpertise That Matters
Botulinum toxin therapy at Aria is performed exclusively by Dr. Kevin Guzman, who is certified in botulinum toxin therapy and specializes in the facial applications most relevant to dental patients — jaw pain, bruxism, gummy smile correction, and facial esthetic lines. Dr. Guzman works alongside the Aria clinical team, making it easy to address both your dental and facial esthetic goals under one roof.
Dr. Guzman is Aria's certified botulinum toxin provider, specializing in the therapeutic and esthetic applications that are most meaningful to dental patients. His training focuses on the precise anatomy of the face, jaw, and perioral region — the same areas where dental care and facial esthetics overlap. He works directly alongside the Aria clinical team to ensure your care is coordinated and comprehensive.
What to Expect
The process is straightforward. Most patients are in and out in under an hour — including a thorough evaluation on the first visit.
Dr. Guzman reviews your symptoms, goals, anatomy, and health history to determine whether botulinum toxin therapy is appropriate for your situation. Candidacy is confirmed at this visit.
Injection sites, dosing, and the target muscle groups are mapped based on your anatomy and your specific goals — therapeutic, esthetic, or both.
Treatment takes approximately 15–30 minutes using ultra-fine needles. Most patients report minimal discomfort. No downtime is required in most cases — you can return to normal activity immediately.
Onset begins within 3–5 days and is fully apparent at 14 days. Results are temporary — individual duration and outcomes vary. A follow-up is scheduled to assess your response and plan next steps.
Protect Your Investment
Teeth grinding is one of the most common factors that can compromise implant treatment over time. If you are planning implant treatment — or already have implants — and experience grinding or clenching, this is worth discussing at your consultation. Managing bruxism is part of protecting your results for the long term.
Questions & Answers
Honest answers about what botulinum toxin therapy can and cannot do — and what to expect if you decide to explore it.
In dentistry, botulinum toxin is used to temporarily relax overactive muscles in and around the jaw and face. This has several clinical applications: reducing masseter muscle activity to relieve TMJ-related jaw pain and teeth grinding (bruxism), correcting a gummy smile by limiting upper lip elevation, and softening facial expression lines. Treatment is available to select patients at Aria Dental Implant Center following a thorough evaluation to confirm candidacy.
For select patients, yes. When jaw pain and teeth grinding are driven by overactivity of the masseter muscle, botulinum toxin injections can significantly reduce the force of clenching and grinding, relieving associated pain and protecting teeth from excessive wear. Results are temporary and individualized — outcomes vary by patient and a thorough evaluation is required to determine whether this treatment is appropriate.
A gummy smile (excessive gingival display) occurs when the upper lip rises higher than desired during smiling, exposing a significant amount of gum tissue. For select patients whose gummy smile is caused by hyperactive lip elevator muscles, botulinum toxin can be used to reduce upper lip elevation, resulting in a more proportionate smile. An evaluation is required to determine whether the muscle pattern is an appropriate candidate for this treatment — gummy smiles can have multiple causes, and botulinum toxin is effective only for the muscular variety.
Dentists train extensively in head and neck anatomy — more so than most practitioners who administer facial injections. Dr. Guzman's specialized training in facial anatomy and injection technique makes precise, anatomy-guided injection placement a natural extension of dental care. For patients already receiving implant or restorative treatment at Aria, combining dental and facial esthetic care in one trusted setting is a significant convenience.
Results are temporary and vary by patient, the muscle treated, and individual metabolism. In general, effects begin within 3–5 days, are fully apparent by 14 days, and typically last 3–4 months. Some patients with therapeutic applications (such as bruxism) may find results last longer with repeated treatment. Individual results vary and are discussed in detail during your evaluation.
This treatment is available to select patients following a thorough evaluation at Aria Dental Implant Center. Candidacy depends on the specific condition being treated, your anatomy, your health history, and your goals. The best first step is to schedule a consultation so Dr. Guzman can evaluate whether botulinum toxin therapy is appropriate for your situation.
Treatment typically takes 15–30 minutes. Ultra-fine needles are used and most patients report minimal discomfort. You can return to normal activities immediately — there is no downtime in most cases. Some patients experience mild, temporary redness or tenderness at the injection site. Results develop over 3–14 days. Specific aftercare instructions are provided at the time of treatment. Individual results vary.
Take the First Step
Botulinum toxin therapy at Aria begins with a thorough evaluation to determine whether you are an appropriate candidate. There is no commitment — just an honest conversation about your symptoms, your goals, and your options.
Results from botulinum toxin therapy are temporary and individualized. Individual results vary. Treatment is available to select patients following evaluation. This page is for informational purposes only.
Tell us a little about what you're experiencing and we'll reach out to schedule your evaluation.