The question of whether dentists are qualified for the prescription and administration of botox treatments has been brought up lately. Many considerations are made while determining the qualifications, and part of that are the laws of the state where it is administered.
Below we will discuss some of the specifics.
What are the issues?
The proper training must be taken, as dentists who deliver botox are bound by the same guidelines as other medical personnel. Granted botox injections are hardly similar to complex heart surgery, but it is still necessary to understand the intricate details of the human anatomy to produce the desired results. Side effects can occur and the treating professional needs to be aware of them and capable of handling them.
Basically, when the necessary training is completed a dentist should be approved for botox injection treatments and of course, prescribing the treatments. .
Dentists performing botox treatments
At this time, dentists are approved for botox injections in most states in America. Botox injection procedure is not the same as cosmetic injections of other kinds. For example, the Dental Board of California allows dentists to inject botox to diagnose and treat myofascial conditions that form a part of a dental treatment plan. It is not however legal for a dentist to use botox to treat cosmetic issues. The Facial Cosmetic Surgery Permit is the authority who regulates this kind of treatment. Botox injection procedures in Georgia require that facial anatomy and specific methods be learned in a 21 hour long course that the board has approved.
Botox treatments for cosmetic reasons have lately been allowed by the Massachusetts Board of Dentistry, for those who have had the intensive training required for these injections.
Since states have their own separate rules on this subject, patients should do their own research into whether their dentist is permitted to administer these treatments. From observable data as of late, it looks like it's moving toward dentists being approved for cosmetic administration of botox treatments.
The debate
Some debate is happening presently for and against dentists being approved to cosmetically treat patients using botox injections. There are those who feel that dentists do not have the same level of knowledge of facial anatomy as plastic surgeons have, and talk is happening on medical forums about this topic. This concurs with some of the state board's guidance of dentists only using botox for dental related procedures.
However, the dentists would argue otherwise, stating that their knowledge of facial and maxillofacial anatomy is good if not better than many physicians, thus making them the right people to administer botox. At this time, it looks like it will be years before this debate is finished.
Summary
The number of patients requesting botox treatments seems to be surpassing the ability of medical professionals to deliver them, due to rising demand. With ever changing policies, state boards are now approving dentists to treat patients who would like to have botox treatments performed.