The Massachusetts Board of Dentistry has released a policy advisory that now allows dentists to use facial injectables such as Botox and dermal fillers.
According to the statement, the Board has affirmed the need for proper live patient training in these procedures within the definition of the Massachusetts dental practice act “to diagnose, treat, operate or prescribe for any disease, pain, injury, deficiency, deformity or other condition of the human teeth, alveolar process, gums or jaws, and associated parts, intra-orally or extra-orally, or if he either offers or undertakes by any method to diagnose, treat, operate or prescribe for any disease, pain, injury, deficiency, deformity or other condition of the same.” This includes the oral and maxillofacial areas where Botox and dermal procedures are routinely performed for dental esthetic and dental therapeutic purposes within the scope of practice of dentistry.
“Massachusetts dentists can now join the vast majority of dental professionals in North America in being able to now provide Botox and dermal fillers for dental esthetic and dental therapeutic uses with comprehensive training. We applaud the board members of the Massachusetts Board of Dentistry for affirming the need for proper training for dentists who are going to use Botox and dermal fillers in their practice,” said Dr. Louis Malcmacher, president of the American Academy of Facial Esthetics (AAFE).
Dr. Malcmacher continued, “With Botox and dermal fillers education being taught at over 50 dental university and dental society continuing education programs for general dentists in the last four years, including the Academy of General Dentistry annual meetings and upcoming American Dental Association annual session in New Orleans, these procedures have become fully integrated into daily dental treatment plans. The American Academy of Facial Esthetics is the leader in dental and facial esthetics and has trained thousands of dental professionals nationwide in the use of Botox and dermal fillers for dental esthetic and dental therapeutic procedures.”
The American Academy of Facial Esthetics courses meet the criteria established by the MA Dental Board as well as the state boards for comprehensive training for Botox and dermal fillers in dentistry and in medicine. The AAFE has scheduled its first Massachusetts course May 2-4, 2013 in Boston, which includes its live patient Frontline TMJ/Myofascial Pain course and full Botox and dermal filler training for dentistry course.
For more information, visit www.FacialEsthetics.org.