Maxilla + Mandible
St. Louis South Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Esthetic Enhancement
Complementary treatments to complete your smile transformation
These treatments support and complement dental implant rehabilitation. They are not a full beauty catalog, but rather targeted interventions that address functional and aesthetic concerns that commonly accompany tooth loss and full-arch reconstruction.
TMJ Botox
Temporomandibular joint dysfunction and bruxism (teeth grinding) are common complications in patients with failing dentition. Botulinum toxin injection into the masseter and temporalis muscles can reduce muscle hyperactivity, alleviate jaw pain, and protect new implant prosthetics from excessive force during the healing and integration period.
How It Complements Implant Treatment
By reducing masticatory muscle force, we minimize stress on newly placed implants during the critical osseointegration phase. This can be particularly important for patients with a history of bruxism or who demonstrate parafunctional habits that could compromise implant success.
This treatment is appropriate for:
- •Patients with diagnosed TMJ dysfunction or chronic jaw pain
- •History of teeth grinding or clenching
- •Masseter hypertrophy affecting facial aesthetics
- •Protection of new prosthetics during healing phase
Perioral Filler
Tooth loss leads to progressive alveolar bone resorption and loss of vertical dimension. This results in facial collapse, particularly in the perioral region: thinning lips, deepening nasolabial folds, and loss of lip support. Strategic use of hyaluronic acid filler can restore volume and improve facial aesthetics while implant osseointegration proceeds.
How Facial Collapse Affects Implant Patients
Patients with long-standing edentulism often present with vertical dimension loss that cannot be fully corrected by prosthetic restoration alone. Perioral filler can restore soft tissue support and achieve better facial harmony with the new dental prosthetics. This improves both aesthetic outcomes and patient satisfaction.
This treatment is appropriate for:
- •Patients with thinned or collapsed upper lip volume
- •Deep nasolabial folds from bone resorption
- •Marionette lines and oral commissure descent
- •Desire to restore facial volume lost from tooth loss
Gummy Smile Correction
Excessive gingival display during smiling can compromise the aesthetic outcome of full-arch implant rehabilitation. We address this through a combination of prosthetic design considerations, crown lengthening procedures when indicated, and in some cases, minimally invasive lip repositioning techniques.
Improving Gum-to-Tooth Ratio with Implant Prosthetics
The fixed prosthetic component of full-arch implant rehabilitation offers unique opportunities to optimize the gingival display. Pink porcelain can simulate natural gingiva, and careful prosthetic design can create ideal tooth proportions and gingival contours. In cases where excessive gingival display persists, additional surgical refinement or lip repositioning may be incorporated.
This treatment is appropriate for:
- •Patients with excessive gingival display on smiling
- •Altered passive eruption or short clinical crowns
- •Hypermobile upper lip contributing to gummy smile
- •Desire to optimize smile aesthetics during full-arch rehabilitation
Ready to Explore Your Options?
Schedule a consultation to discuss your specific situation with Dr. Gray. Every case is unique, and a personalized evaluation is the first step.
St. Louis South Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery