The Dental Council has recently amended its statement on the administration of Botulinum-A.
The statement was issued in 2005 and set out the Council’s position on this advanced area of practice.
The Council is aware that the 2005 statement—in particular, the wording referring to the nasolabial folds and/or perioral area—has become a source of confusion for some practitioners.
The Council is undertaking a review of the use of botulinum toxin in general dental practice later in 2016, as part of the Council’s wider review of the policy on advanced and new areas of practice. This review will take into account advances in science and health care delivery methods, as well as the introduction of the Council’s standards framework, and how the Council’s statement fits within that.
As an interim measure, the Council has agreed to amend the 2005 statement by removing references to nasolabial folds and/or perioral area, until it can carry out the complete review of its position on the administration of botulinum toxin. See the amended statement here.
It remains the responsibility of the practitioner to ensure
- the health needs and safe care of their patients are their primary concerns
- they practise within their professional knowledge, skills and competence
- they have patients’ informed consent.
Dentists are reminded that if they are administering botulinum toxin in their practice, they must comply with the requirements of the standards framework for oral health practitioners, the policy on advanced and new areas of practice and the amended statement on the administration of Botulinum-A.
At all times, they must also work within their general dental scope of practice, which describes the practice of dentistry as “the maintenance of health through the assessment, diagnosis, management, treatment and prevention of any disease, disorder or condition of the orofacial complex and associated structures.”
