PTIFA PTIFA

Dentists, Maxillofacial Surgeons & Specialists

Botulinum toxin (Dysport®/Botox®) is a natural purified protein that relaxes muscle and that is used for non-invasive therapeutic and aesthetic treatments. Botulinum toxin injections are quick, relatively painless and can help reduce the signs of aging, as well as to decrease myofascial pain. There are a number of therapeutic and aesthetic uses of botulinum toxin in dentistry. Besides the well known aesthetic uses of reducing facial wrinkles, botulinum toxin can be used in all dental specialty areas to treat the following oral conditions:

  • TMD/TMJ (pain reduction)
  • Uneven lips/smile
  • Gummy smiles (reduction in gingival display)
  • Periodontic (pre-surgical and recession prophylaxis)
  • Endodontic (differential diagnosis of nonspecific pain)
  • Parafunctional habits (reduction in grinding & clenching)
  • Implants (pre and post surgical)
  • Orthodontics (post treatment retention)
  • Sleep apnea (appliance compliance)

Read more about the therapeutic applications of BoNT-A in dentistry here.

Download Dr. Roberts’ business guide to Botulinum Toxin.

Why Dentists?

 

Dentists have a specialized university education in the head and neck areas and are prime candidates to include facial rejuvenation as part of their overall treatment plans. Much like painters studying their painting, dental professionals regularly examine the brush strokes, techniques, geometry, tones and style. It is all of the individual factors that produce the end piece. If the end piece is the whole face then facial aesthetics is a logical progression, or addition to smile design. Additionally, dentists make an excellent clinician choice because they:

  • Have specialized university education and focus their careers on the anatomy of the head and neck
  • Understand the importance of reviewing medical history and performing a complete exam
  • Are highly trained and experienced in providing facial injections
  • Work in a clinical setting
  • Don’t delegate the treatment to a staff member or administrator
  • Understand the importance of asepsis and always use sterile instruments or ‘once only’ disposables
  • Have appropriate liability insurance
  • Can numb areas of treatment
  • Can discuss and treat all aesthetic patient concerns regarding their teeth, smile and face.
Dr. Roberts discusses the importance of dental health practitioners opening their minds and beginning to understand how botulinum toxin fits into the diagnostic and treatment armamentarium, thereby improving the well-being of our patients.

There are no long-term negative side effects associated with botulinum toxin type A, and typically, therapeutic results last 4-6 months and cosmetic results last 3-4 months. The ability to successfully treat all aspects of a cosmetic case, from start to finish, is key to achieving ideal aesthetic results. Dentists need to look beyond simply treating teeth, and look at creating smiles that are in harmony with the entire face. Drs. Roberts have written a number of research articles that have been published in Oral Health, Dentistry Today, the Journal of Cosmetic Dentistry, Spectrum, Teamwork, Just for Canadian Dentists and more. See all articles. 

 

 

Are dentists allowed to do botulinum toxin (aka Dysport®/Botox®) and dermal fillers treatments?
We train dentists, physicians and nurses from across the world. It is up to each practitioner to contact their local licensing college to determine whether botulinum toxin and/or dermal fillers is in their scope of practice within their jurisdiction, and for practice guidelines.
Are your courses recognized by ADA CERP & AGD PACE?
Yes, PTIFA is an ADA CERP and AGD PACE recognized provider. Please review each course page for credit information.
I only want to learn the therapeutic use of botulinum toxin. What course do I take?
There is significant overlap between aesthetic and therapeutic treatments. Therapeutic treatment can have aesthetic side effects and vice versa. A thorough understanding of how the two are related is required for effective and appropriate treatment. The PTIFA Therapeutic and Aesthetic Templates illustrates their synergy. Precise anatomical placement and proper dosage is required in each case. Higher dosage than that used for aesthetic treatment alone results in reduction of headaches and migraines (see Allergan’s PREEMT study). A threshold dosage, carefully placed, must be reached in order to obtain therapeutic relief. At this juncture, the secondary and tertiary mechanisms of action of botulinum toxin (Dysport®/Botox®) come into play, and there is a synergy between aesthetic and therapeutic outcomes. That's why our Level 2 course has been designed to teach you the aesthetic use of botulinum toxin in the upper face, as well as the therapeutic use for reducing pain (migraines/ headaches/ TMJ/ bruxing/ etc). For learning therapeutic treatment skills we recommend the Level 1 online and Level 2 hands-on courses as a minimum. Level 3 takes the therapeutic training deeper. To learn more, review Dr. Roberts' article "Botulinum Toxin: Not Just a Pretty Face".
Do I have to complete Level 1 before taking Level 2? Can I just take Level 2?
Level 1 must be completed first. All the higher-Level courses are based on the advanced anatomy taught in Level 1. Without Level 1, practitioners will not understand or benefit from the more advanced Level courses.
How do I engage & train the rest of my dental team?
A big part of our educational philosophy is being able to successfully integrate treatment into your office. We understand the challenges of introducing a new treatment modality and so we proudly offer separate and extensive team member training. The Team Member courses are geared to give any auxiliary staff the knowledge and skill to immediately integrate back into your office after completing the course, and to help you provide the highest level of patient care. Nothing will replace the enthusiasm your team members will have who attend the course with you!
Do you have a combined botulinum toxin & dermal filler course?
Our educational content is thoughtfully created and structured to allow dental and medical graduates to be successful in achieving predictable results - with little to no side effects. To do this, practitioners require a deep understanding of underlying anatomy, as well as a specific treatment and injection practices that provide the highest level of patient care. Both topics of botulinum toxin (Dypsort®/Botox®) and dermal fillers require ample anatomy-based instruction and clinical hands-on practice. It is not possible to obtain the depth of skill needed to be successful at both in a combined botulinum toxin/dermal filler course.  
I’m an international graduate. Can I take this course?
Our courses are available to international dental, medical and nursing graduates. However, some of the treatments include the use of prescription medications (ie: botulinum toxin) and require the ability to prescribe and/or administer prescription medications. Please appreciate we train practitioners from across the world and that regulations vary. Please contact the local licensing college within the jurisdiction you plan to practice for details prior to registering.
Am I allowed to do botulinum toxin injections aesthetically in my province/state?
Each province/state has different regulations laid out by the dental licensing colleges. Some provinces/states allow both the therapeutic and the aesthetic uses, while some only allow the therapeutic use. Please contact your local licensing college for scope and for guidelines. PTIFA teaches both the therapeutic and aesthetic use of botulinum toxin together in the Level 2 course. As the secondary and tertiary mechanisms of action of botulinum toxin come into play, there is a synergy between aesthetic and therapeutic outcomes.  In order to provide a high-level of patient care, practitioners require a deep comprehensive understanding of the PTIFA Therapeutic Template and the Cosmetic Template and their synergy.
Are botulinum toxin/dermal fillers approved by my college?
PTIFA trains dentist, physicians, nurses, naturopaths and pharmacists from across the world. The scope of practice varies with the jurisdiction. We recommend you check with your local licensing body for guidelines prior to registering for the courses.
Is any clinical integration and/or marketing taught in this course?
Yes! Practitioners receive clinical integration in the Level 1 and Level 2 course. Additionally, Team Members who attend the Level 2 – Team Member course receive specific training on how to speak to patients about treatment, how to reconstitute and load syringes, supplies, marketing, billing, photography training and much more.
How do I integrate botulinum toxin into my practice? Is it different for medical vs. dental practitioners?
The Level 1 and Level 2 curriculum has been uniquely developed to help you successfully integrate botulinum toxin treatment into your practice immediately after taking the course. We understand that incorporating a new treatment modality can be challenging. Our Level 2 graduates can expect to receive all of the training, tools and clinical requirements so that they can begin integrating treatment into their offices immediately after the course.
I have extensive anatomy background. Can I skip Level 1?
PTIFA is known as an anatomy-based educational provider within the industry. This is one of the many reasons why dentists, physicians, nurses and specialists from across the world travel to participate in our hands-on courses. In the past, we allowed certain practitioners to skip Level 1. We found that these practitioners struggled in the higher level courses as they did not have the detailed anatomy review (16+ hours) from Level 1. All of the hands-on course materials are based on the e-Advanced Anatomy, e-Skull and E-Cadaver labs taught in Level 1 - which is why it is a pre-requisite for all of the other courses. We invite you to contact us to discuss your experience and the educational opportunity at PTIFA.
How much hands-on instruction will I have?
Our goal is to maximize the amount of hands-on experience you have so you are confidant offering treatment on your own after the course. At the Level 2 course you can expect to inject 10+ different patients. This is achieved by sharing patient models amongst all practitioners to ensure an opportunity to experience multiple tissue types and areas of the face.

 

Increase practice income from patients who are prepared to pay privately out of pocket for treatments.

Ability to exercise your own creativity by helping patients achieve the appearance they desire.

 

Offer a treatment and service that your patients will ASK you and love you for.

 

Ability to treat an entire smile design case from start to finish, including the fine facial lines & wrinkles surrounding it.

Reduce headaches/migraines/TMD without the use of a dental splint. Improve the lives of your patients with proven threshold dosage levels of botulinum toxin.

Ability to exercise your own creativity by helping patients achieve the appearance they desire.

Engage & motivate your entire dental team with botulinum toxin treatment with the Level 2 – Team Training course.

Boost chair production by simply incorporating a tray system and adding a 15 minute treatment onto the end of a hygiene appointment.

Improved patient care with a deep understanding of how botulinum toxin fits into your diagnostic and treatment armamentarium, and thereby improving the well-being of your patients.

Practice Revenue Opportunity


According to the American Academy of Plastic Surgeons 2017 Plastic Surgery Statistics report, botulinum toxin (ie: Dysport®/Botox®) procedures has grown over 819% from 2000 to 2017.  Are you taking advantage of this expanding market? Learn how you can improve patient care and increase practice revenue with minimal overhead.

On average, a new botulinum toxin patient requires 50-70 units of treatment. At $12 per unit, that visit equals $600-$840 in practice revenue. Seeing only six botulinum toxin patients per month produces approximately $3,600 – $5,040 additional revenue per month.

In one year, six botulinum toxin patients per month will produce a minimum of $43,200 in practice revenue.

Initial Outlay

Tuition Expense:

  • Level 1 online anatomy course ($1,695)
  • Level 2 – Basic Botulinum Toxin course ($3,400)
  • Team Members for the Level 2 Team Member course (3 x $799 = $2,397)

Total Tuition: $7,492

Supplies Expense:

  • Set-up Tray (syringes, ice packs, saline etc.) $250
  • Cost of botulinum toxin product ($270 – $365 /vial)

Total Cost = $7,742

 

 

Dentists will see a complete return on their training investment in less than two months (based on seeing six botulinum toxin patients, not including cost of Dysport/Botox® product). Besides ordering product and incorporating a tray system, offering botulinum toxin as a treatment requires no additional equipment or investment. Upon graduating from Level 2, you will be able to offer both the aesthetic treatments for reducing the signs of aging (ie: fine facial lines and wrinkles), as well as the therapeutic treatments (ie: bruxing/clenching/grinding/TMD/migraines/headaches).

Start today with the Level 1 online course
Upcoming Hands-on Level 2 Course Dates

Upcoming Hands-on Courses

Oct 6-7, 2023
Level 2 - Basic Botulinum Toxin: Aesthetic Upper Face & Therapeutic Pain Management
Vancouver, BC*
Oct 20, 2023
Medical Microneedling
Vancouver, BC*
Oct 27-28, 2023
Level 2 - Basic Botulinum Toxin: Aesthetic Upper Face & Therapeutic Pain Management
Winnipeg, MB