Knowledge and Attitudes of Dental Patients Toward Botulinum Toxin Treatment

Background: This study aims to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of patients applying to a dental faculty for treatment regarding botulinum toxin. Methods: The study was conducted at the İstanbul Yeni Yüzyıl University Faculty of Dentistry Hospital and included a total of 139 patients. A 3-section questionnaire was used: (1) demographic data, (2) knowledge of Botox, and (3) attitudes toward Botox applications. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS 23.0, and the Kruskal-Wallis test, Dunn’s test, Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-square test, and Fisher’s Exact tests were applied. Results: Among the participants, 67.6% were female, 32.4% were male, and 70.6% were between 18 and 44 years old. Only 15.1% of the participants correctly answered the question “What Is Botox?.” While 75.5% of the participants stated that Botox is used for cosmetic purposes, their knowledge of its therapeutic applications was limited. Additionally, 20.9% of participants reported being aware of the side effects of Botox, while 33.1% stated that they had considered undergoing Botox treatment. 12.9% of the participants had previously undergone Botox procedures, with 72.2% receiving it for aesthetic reasons and 27.8% for medical purposes. Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that patients have insufficient knowledge regarding the therapeutic uses of botulinum toxin. Participants predominantly perceive Botox as a cosmetic procedure and have limited awareness of its medical benefits. Furthermore, a significant portion of participants believe that Botox procedures can only be performed by plastic surgeons and dermatologists, demonstrating low awareness of the competency of dentists in administering such treatments. This study highlights the need to increase patient awareness regarding both the aesthetic and therapeutic uses of Botox.