Botox Treatments by Dentists

By Erin O'breen


Botox injections are administered by trained personnel in cosmetic surgery to improve one's appearance, be it for personal reasons or for medical reasons. Performing Botox injections should be done by a doctor in most cases, as the standards that are required to deliver these injections are very strictly enforced. Of course, other trained personnel such as nurses can also inject botox but in the presence of a trained physician.

The question of whether dentists are qualified for the prescription and administration of botox treatments has been brought up lately. State laws are part of what determines the answer to these questions, among other things.

We will examine this in closer detail.

Which are the points in question?

Well, the issues with dentists injecting botox are the same with any health care professional injecting it - it is all about whether they are trained to do so. For these treatments to be administered, it takes someone who knows precisely how the body works, who has had significant medical training, it's not a difficult procedure, but it takes professional skill. With injections such as these, there are sometimes side effects, and they can only be properly dealt with by a highly trained expert.

Dentists are generally approved to inject and prescribe botox after they have completed the training for this procedure.

Dentists and botox injections

Most states in the United States now allow dentists to administer botox injections. There is a difference between standard injections for cosmetic reasons, and the way botox is administered. 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. A dentist can not legally administer botox treatments for conditions that are of the cosmetic variety. Administering it for this reason involves the Facial Cosmetic Surgery Permit to approve of the procedure. Board approved courses are taught in some states like Georgia, they lay out the exact specifications of administering the toxin, and the different types available and of course rigorous review of the anatomy of the face.

Dentists who have completed the necessary training involved for cosmetic injection are newly allowed because of approval from the Massachusetts Board of Dentistry in that state.

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. But overall, it appears that there is a growing trend of approving dentists to now inject botox for cosmetic purposes.

The controversy

Allowing dentists to administer botox to treat cosmetic issues has people debating if this should be approved. This subject has been argued lately with some stating on medical forums that dentists lack the necessary knowledge about facial anatomy, and that only plastic surgeons should perform it. The board in the state has some stipulations that agree with this assessment, and say only dentistry related botox treatments should be approved for dentists.

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. The argument will likely be ongoing over the next several years, until it is resolved.

Synopsis

The number of patients requesting botox treatments seems to be surpassing the ability of medical professionals to deliver them, due to rising demand. The restrictions by state boards for delivering botox are being updated all the time, and dentists are now being sought out to perform the injections.




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