Dentists practicing in Arizona can soon offer cosmetic Botox and dermal fillers to their patients. A bill that paves the way for dentists to alleviate eye wrinkles, lines around the mouth and provide a wide range of other cosmetic benefits with injectable treatments has been OKed by Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey.
The new legislation allowing the administering of aesthetic Botox and fillers by dentists passed the state’s House and Senate almost unanimously and was sent to the Republican governor for approval last week. Dental professionals were already allowed to use Botox for treating medical conditions like TMD and bruxism.
Dentists testified before the legislature that they are perhaps better qualified to do injectable treatments than any other kind of medical professional because of their expensive education and experience treating the face and neck. While doctors and nurses also take courses on the anatomy of the face neck, dentists get much more training and experience because their work primarily involves these areas.
Lawmakers were also told by dentists that their qualifications surely set them above those who provide injectable treatments at Botox parties or medical spas. Dental offices are also equipped to handle any side effects that may occur.
SB 1074 as approved by the governor specifically allows cosmetic Botox and dermal fillers injections by dentists. It additionally expands the scope of dentistry to better define when a dentist can provide prescriptions and includes a section specifying that “the diagnosis, surgical or non-surgical treatment and performance of related adjunctive procedures for any disease, pain, deformity, deficiency, injury or physical condition of associated tissues of the oral maxillofacial complex” is within the scope of dentistry.
Arizona dentists must wait a bit longer to begin offering cosmetic Botox and fillers, however, because the legislation doesn’t take effect until summer – 90 days after the legislature adjourns for its summer recess. In the meantime, dental professionals who want to offer injectables have time to obtain Botox and dermal filler training and certification.
Dentox offers injectables training in person in just one day – and offers live online and recorded on demand courses. Reach out to learn more or sign up.
