Why Should Dental Hygienists Not Be Allowed to Perform Therapeutic Botox?

asked 11 months ago by Kerry RDH in Oakland, CA
Latest answer by Ronald Shelton, MD
Question viewed 528 times
Tags: female, legal, qualifications

I am a registered dental hygienist in CA. Hygienists are trained and fully licensed in local anesthesia in the mouth, have extensive knowledge and training in head and neck anatomy and have taken the exact same science pre-requisites as RN's.

We already have the skill of giving injections regularly and performing many non surgical treatments such as soft tissue laser etc.With proper training and supervision by a licensed dentist why should hygienists be restricted? What exactly do the laws say?

9 answers to Why Should Dental Hygienists Not Be Allowed to Perform Therapeutic Botox?

Why Can't Dental Hygenists Perform Botox Injections?

Hi RDH. The laws in the state of California are set up so that only certain medical licensees are allowed to provide Botox. The reason for this is patient safety. Botox is a very safe drug, but just like any drug, can be dangerous in the wrong hands. Only RNs, NPs, PAs and MDs are allowed to inject the drug and if an NP, PA and RN is not directly supervised, they can only inject when a standardized procedure is in place. We hear from estheticians almost... more

Harold J. Kaplan, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.celibre.com

Laws governing who can inject Botox

Laws are created state by state as to who can inject medicines. One state may allow non licensed individuals and others may only allow MDs PAs and NP / RNs. Same with the operation of lasers. It is important to check with each state as to the laws and have them explain their rules.

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist

The issue is patient safety and you are qualified to work as a hygienist

The medical board's duty is to protect the patients. At this time the Botox injection can be done by trained physicians or under their supervision. If your dentist decides to go back to medical school and do extra training,and you go back to school to become a nurse, then you can start injecting under your doctors supervision.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Hard to Believe This Question is Being Asked

With this type of logic why not allow barbers to inject Botox or better yet why not allow barbers clean teeth after they finish your hair cut.

S. Randolph Waldman, MD
Lexington Facial Plastic Surgeon

Why can't a dental hygienist inject botox

Okay, I do laser procedures and local anesthetic injections and I do not think that unless I went to dental hygiene school, I would be qualified to do the things you do. Botox injections should not be done by technicians but by fully trained medical professionals. In my practice, I do all of my own facial Botox injections. I don't even delegate it to an RN. It's not as easy as it looks. Same goes for filler. more

Lisa L. Sowder, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Why a dental hygienist is not allowed to inject Botox

The standards set up by the Medical Board of California are made to ensure patient safety and the law states that medical doctors, nurses and physician assistants are allowed to inject Botox. While I have several very well qualified registered nurses who work for me I prefer to do each and every Botox injection myself. As a surgeon and artist I feel personally responsible for the happiness of all of my patients and I am able to ensure that through my many years of experience and expertise. I... more

Michael Elam, MD
Orange County Facial Plastic Surgeon

michaelelammd.com

You clinical and anatomic knowledge is not as broad as you think.

I think the issue here is professional envy and arrogance. Sure, as a dental hygienist you are highly trained for the tasks you perform. You might be a very capable individual and perhaps in other circumstances perhaps you might have gone to medical or nursing school. However, you choose a career in dentistry as a dental hygienist. In California, only a handful of general dentists are qualified to inject BOTOX cosmetically. So why do you think that you should be... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Only MD's or their designees can inject Botox in California

In California, only MD's or their designees like RN's, PA's, who operate under an established protocol for the given physician who's licence they are practicing under, are allowed to perform Botox Injections.

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

The Law In California: Only Physicians May Perform or Supervise Botox Injections

In California, the practice of medicine is governed by the Medical Board of California. The Medical Board states unequivocally that "physicians may inject Botox, or they may direct registered nurse, licensed vocational nurses, or physician assistants to perform the injection under their supervision. No unlicensed persons, such as medical assistants, may inject Botox." The Medical Board also states that "Physicians may use lasers or intense pulsed light devices. In... more