The Iowa Dental Board wants to allow licensed dentists to perform procedures using Botox. The new rule would require dentists to undergo training for the use of BOTOX.

The board has not made a decision on the issue, but is asking for comments from the public.

You can make comments at http://www.state.ia.us/dentalboard/index.html.

The text of the position statement from the Dental Board is below

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Botox or Dermal Fillers

Iowa law limits dentists to providing services that are within the scope of dentistry, which is defined in Iowa Code section 153.13(2) as duties that include, “examination, diagnosis, treatment, and attempted correction by any medicine, appliance, surgery, or other appropriate method of any disease, condition, disorder, lesion, injury, deformity, or defect of the oral cavity and maxillofacial area, including teeth, gums, jaws, and associated structures and tissue, which methods by education, background experience, and expertise are common to the practice of dentistry.

A dental license further extends the scope of authority of a dentist to prescribe, administer, or dispense prescription medications.  However, such authority is granted only “if the use is directly related to the practice of dentistry within the scope of the dentist-patient relationship.”  650-IAC16.2(1) Board rules further require that a dental exam be conducted and a medical history taken before a dentist prescribes, administers, or dispenses medication to a patient.

The Board has determined that under these laws, a dentist may administer botox and other derma fillers if the use of those medications is directly related to the practice of dentistry, but only if the dentist has successfully completed appropriate education and training.  The Board has determined that at this time, the only dentists who have completed appropriate education and training to use these medications in the practice of dentistry are dentists who have completed an ADA-accredited residency program which includes in the scope of its education and training the administration of botox and other derma fillers.