Shield Dental Care now offers Botox in Burke, VA, for cosmetic reasons, from frown lines, forehead lines and crow’s feet to lip lines, a gummy smile, the jawline and neck bands, and for therapeutic reasons, easing the jaw pain, clenching and grinding that dentists see every day. Dr. Ghorbani provides treatment in our Sydenstricker Road office, and we carry three products: BOTOX® Cosmetic, Dysport and Daxxify.

This page is the overview. Each treatment and each product has its own page below with the detail.

Cosmetic Botox for facial lines

These are the areas of the upper face that botulinum toxin is best known for. All of them are lines caused by movement, where a muscle folds the skin again and again.

Botox for the lips, lower face and neck

Around the mouth, the muscles are smaller and work harder every time you talk, eat and smile, so doses are small and placement is precise. Apart from neck bands, these uses are off-label for every product, and we will go through that with you.

Botox for jaw pain, grinding and clenching

The jaw muscles are a dentist’s home ground. When they are overworking, relaxing them can reduce soreness and the force on your teeth and jaw joints, usually alongside a night guard rather than instead of one. For the full range of options, see teeth grinding and clenching treatment.

The products we use

“Botox” is a brand name that has become shorthand for a whole group of medicines. We carry three of them, and they are not interchangeable: each has its own units, its own FDA approvals and its own strengths.

  • BOTOX® Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA). FDA-approved for frown lines, forehead lines, crow’s feet and neck bands.
  • Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA). FDA-approved for frown lines in adults under 65. Not for anyone allergic to cow’s milk protein.
  • Daxxify (daxibotulinumtoxinA-lanm). FDA-approved for frown lines. Studied for longer-lasting results.

FDA-approved and off-label: what it means

Each product is FDA-approved for specific areas. Using it anywhere else, such as Dysport on the forehead or any product for jaw clenching, is called off-label. Off-label use is legal, common and often well supported by clinical experience, but you are entitled to know when it applies. We will tell you, and it is part of the consent conversation before treatment.

How Botox works

Botulinum toxin type A temporarily blocks the chemical signal a nerve uses to tell a muscle to contract. In the tiny, targeted doses used here, it relaxes only the muscle it is placed in. A relaxed muscle folds the skin less, or clenches with less force. Over the following months the nerve endings recover, movement returns, and the effect wears off unless the treatment is repeated.

What to expect at your appointment

  • Consultation first. We review your medical history, medicines and any previous treatments, look at the area moving and at rest, and agree what you want to achieve. If Botox is not the right tool, we will say so.
  • Treatment. A few small injections with a very fine needle. Most areas take minutes, and most people describe a brief pinch.
  • Straight back to your day. There is no recovery time. For the rest of the day, stay upright for a few hours, do not rub the area, and leave hard exercise until tomorrow.
  • Follow-up. The effect builds over about two weeks, and that is when we check how you have responded.

Results and how long they last

Most people start to see a change within a few days, with the full effect at around two weeks. Botox and Dysport typically last about three to four months. In its trials, Daxxify often lasted around six months for frown lines. Treatment should not be repeated more often than every three months.

Safety, side effects and who should wait

The most common side effects are short-lived: redness, small bumps or a bruise where the needle went in, and sometimes a headache. Depending on the area, a temporarily drooping eyelid or heavy brow can occur, and it wears off. All botulinum toxin products carry an FDA boxed warning that, rarely, the effect can spread beyond the injection site and cause trouble swallowing, speaking or breathing, vision problems or muscle weakness, hours to weeks later. That is a medical emergency.

We recommend waiting, or choosing a different treatment, if you:

  • are pregnant or breastfeeding
  • are allergic to any botulinum toxin product, or to cow’s milk protein (Dysport)
  • have an infection or active skin problem where the injections would go
  • have a nerve-and-muscle condition such as myasthenia gravis, Lambert-Eaton syndrome or ALS

Tell us, too, if you take blood thinners, have recently taken aminoglycoside antibiotics, or have had any botulinum toxin treatment in the last four months.

Why have Botox at the dentist?

Dentists spend their working lives in the muscles, nerves and anatomy of the face and jaw, and are used to giving precise injections there. Since 2023, Virginia law has allowed dentists to give botulinum toxin for cosmetic purposes once they have completed the training required by the Virginia Board of Dentistry. That training covers facial anatomy, patient assessment, informed consent, including off-label use, and managing complications. Having Botox with the dentist who already knows your bite and jaw also makes it easier to treat clenching and grinding as part of your overall care.

What Botox costs

Cost depends on the areas treated, the product and the dose your muscles need, so we give you a price at the consultation, before any treatment. Cosmetic Botox is not covered by dental insurance. When it is used for jaw conditions, coverage varies, and we are glad to help you check your plan. Be careful comparing per-unit prices between brands: the units are not equivalent. Our Botox cost page explains what goes into the price.

Read more about Botox

Common questions, answered in depth: first-time Botox: what to expect, how long Botox lasts, aftercare for the first 24 hours, Botox vs Dysport vs Daxxify, Botox or a night guard for grinding and why get Botox at the dentist.

For a broader, plain-English introduction, read our guide to Botox at the dentist. To book a consultation, call (703) 250-5072 or request an appointment.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Shield Dental Care offer cosmetic Botox?+

Yes. We treat frown lines between the brows, forehead lines, crow’s feet and bunny lines; lip lines and the lip flip, a gummy smile, chin dimpling and downturned mouth corners; the jawline and neck bands; and jaw pain, clenching and grinding.

Which brands of Botox do you carry?+

BOTOX Cosmetic, Dysport and Daxxify. We will recommend one based on the area being treated and what matters most to you, such as how long it lasts.

Can a dentist legally give Botox in Virginia?+

Yes. Dentists may use botulinum toxin for dental purposes, and since 2023 Virginia law has allowed them to give it for cosmetic purposes once they complete the training required by the Board of Dentistry.

How long does Botox last?+

Botox and Dysport typically last about three to four months. Daxxify often lasted around six months for frown lines in its trials. Treatment should not be repeated more often than every three months.

Does Botox hurt?+

Most people describe a brief pinch. The needle is very fine and the injections take minutes.

Is there any downtime?+

No. Most people go straight back to work. You may have small bumps or a bruise for a short time.