Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Dentists Administering Botox Treatments

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. Those who are certified to administer Botox are specially trained to do so, as there are strict rules when it comes to who has the qualifications to administer it, and generally a physician is recommended to deliver it. Of course, other trained personnel such as nurses can also inject botox but in the presence of a trained physician.

Inquiries have been made as of late about botox injections that are prescribed and delivered by a dentist. 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. 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

The prescription and administration of botox treatments are allowed by dentists in the majority of the United States. 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. 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. 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.

More recently, the Massachusetts Board of Dentistry approved dentists who have had practical training in cosmetic injection treatments to administer botox and fillers for cosmetic purposes.

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 debate

Some debate is happening presently for and against dentists being approved to cosmetically treat patients using botox injections. Discussions on a number of medical forums have constantly stated that they should be performed by trained plastic surgeons that have a better understanding of facial anatomy than dentists do. 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.

Dentists, on the other hand, have a different opinion, they say that their understanding of maxillofacial and facial anatomy is highly advanced, making them qualified to administer botox, as much or more so than some doctors. It would appear that this argument will continue on for years to come.

Summary

As more people are in the market for this type of procedure, the medical field is looking for new ways to meet the needs of patients who would like botox injections. With ever changing policies, state boards are now approving dentists to treat patients who would like to have botox treatments performed.




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