MELBOURNE, Australia: The use of Botulinum Toxin in dentistry is causing debate among the dental community in Australia. Discussion came to a head recently after the Australian Academy of Dento-Facial Aestethics (AADFA) issued a letter to the Dental Board of Australia, the governmental agency overseeing standards, registration and training in dentistry, requesting the retraction of an interim policy that allows dentists only trained in the treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders to administer the toxic protein.
Put in place originally in November 2010, this policy also announced to review the use of botox in dentistry but has not introduced any changed so far. In a public letter, the DBA’s chairman John Lockwood, however, said that the Board is currently working on establishing a group of experts which is going to review several policies including those for possession, administration, supply and prescription of restricted drugs.
Dr Myles Holt, head of the Australian Academy of Dento-Facial Aestethics, a private organisation of dentists promoting facial injectable treatments throughout the Australasian region, said that the current guidelines are causing confusion among dentists and therefore should be retracted in order to make way for a better regulatory solution. He blamed the Board to have set up its policy without proper research or scientific consultation.
Based in Melbourne, the AADFA claims to have been training more than 150 dentists in Australia and New Zealand in facial aesthetic treatment using botox since 2009.
On their website, the Australian Dental Association confirmed that it has received some enquiries by dentists requesting clarity on the issue but said to have advised its members to comply with the current DBA guidelines.
Cosmetic dentistry procedures like teeth whitening, veneers or invisible braces have become a thriving business in Australia with clinics specialised in aesthetic procedures reporting an increase of patients of up to 60 per cent in recent years. According to latest figures of the Cosmetics Physicians Society of Australasia, Aussies are also currently spending more than AUS$300 million (US$291 million) on non-invasive cosmetic procedures, with Botox being the most requested in 91 per cent of clinics.
Treatment with botox and dermal fillers by dentists is currently allowed in some countries in Asia, as well as Europe and the US.
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