Schedule 1 Drugs and Dentists Scope of Practice
The purpose of this information sheet is to identify when it is within the Dentists Scope of Practice to prescribe and administer Schedule 1 medications, such as Botulinum Toxin Type A (i.e. Botox®) and smoking cessation drugs, such as Zyban®.
Documentation
Key Points
- Dentists must self assess that the courses they take prepare them with the knowledge and skills to prescribe or administer Schedule 1 drugs safely.
- Dentists can only be prescribed or administered Schedule 1 drugs under the following circumstances:
- the patient is a "patient of records" at the dental practice;
- the drug is part of a comprehensive dental treatment plan;
- the patient has received a comprehensive dental examination;
- the patient completed a full medical history and has been assessed;
- informed consent has been obtained;
- treatment takes place in an appropriate clinical setting.
Use of dermal fillers remains outside the scope of practice of dentists
Dentists are reminded that performing any procedure outside their scope of practice is illegal and not covered by malpractice insurance.
Currently,
the administration of dermal fillers is not part of the scope of
practice of general dentists in B.C. The CDSBC Board formed a working
group of oral surgeons knowledgeable in the area of dermal fillers to
research the issues surrounding the use of dermal fillers by dentists.
The Board accepted the group’s recommendation that dermal fillers are
technically challenging and carry a significant enough risk of adverse
effects to not be included in the scope of practice of general dentists
at this time.
The Board acknowledged that dentists could
potentially attain the competencies required to safely administer dermal
fillers, but decided that until the education and experience required
for competent administration could be established, dermal fillers remain
outside the scope of practice of dentists. The only exception to this
rule is for dentists who have had training in the use of dermal fillers
as part of an accredited specialty program and have received approval
from CDSBC.
The dermal filler working group will conduct further
investigation into what would be required to safely administer dermal
fillers and report back to the Board for further consideration when that
work is complete. The Board requested that general dentists be added to
the working group to ensure a balanced perspective, so three general
dentists will be appointed to the working group.
In addition,
another group is being struck to consider this issue at the national
level. As soon as further investigations have been carried out, CDSBC
will update the profession. Dentists are reminded that performing any procedure
outside their scope of practice is illegal and not covered by
malpractice insurance. This puts both the patient and the dentist at
significant risk.
This article was originally printed in the Summer 2011 issue of the Sentinel.
