Caution urged by dental regulator around cosmetic dental procedures

The Dental Board of Australia (the DBA) is urging dental practitioner and patients alike to exercise caution when it comes to cosmetic dental procedures such as tooth veneers which it says do not come without some risk. 

While it recognises that these procedures are currently undergoing increased popularity, it says patients need to ask questions about the treatment they are considering such as “Why do I want this procedure?” and "What are the health, financial and other risks of this procedure?" so they can enter into it properly informed.

The National Boards, which included the DBA which regulates dentistry in Australia, are planning to begin consultations shortly as part of the development of new guidelines for registered health practitioners performing and advertising non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

DBA Chair Dr Murray Thomas said that National Boards, including the DBA, are developing additional resources to help practitioners meet their obligations when performing cosmetic procedures. 

“Restoring form, function and aesthetics or appearance are integral to dentistry, so the lines between procedures undertaken for cosmetic purposes and addressing a clinical need are often blurred,” Dr Thomas said.

“Regardless of the reason for providing care, practitioners have a responsibility to put patients’ interests first to achieve the best possible patient outcomes.

“This includes when undertaking procedures for cosmetic purposes, which can sometimes be major undertakings. Practitioners must ensure patients are provided adequate time to properly consider the impact of cosmetic procedures, that realistic expectations are set, and that informed consent, including financial consent, is gained.”

With a recent audit uncovering breaches of the current advertising guidelines by practitioners, and more extensive ones planned for the future, the DBA is calling on all practitioners to be aware of their responsibilities in marketing as well as patient care.

Practitioners are encouraged to use the self-assessment tool on Ahpra’s advertising hub to ensure their advertising complies with the National Law.

‘We know practitioners want to do the right thing and advertise responsibly, so encourage them to make use of the tools available to help them meet their requirements to the law, and most importantly to their patients,’ Dr Thomas said.
 

For more on this story, go to "Cosmetic procedures by dental pratitioners are not without risk"