Policy Statement 6.23 - Prescribing Medications in Dentistry

1. Position Summary

Dentists must be able to prescribe, dispense, supply or administer any appropriate drugs for patients for the purposes of oral healthcare. Dentists should consider the risks of misuse and dependency issues when prescribing certain medications including opioids and anxiolytics.

2. Position

2.1 The education of dentists must continue to meet the standards of the NPS Prescribing Competencies Framework.

2.2 Strategies for medication safety include accessing appropriate educational resources and liaising with other treating health providers.

2.3 Dentists must comply with all legal requirements pertaining to prescribing or dispensing medications.

2.4 Dentists must be able to prescribe, supply or administer any appropriate drug (including opioids) for dental patients for the purposes of oral healthcare.

2.5 Dentists are expected to prescribe medicines responsibly, in accordance with contemporary evidence-based clinical guidelines and the principles of quality use of medicines, to optimise patient outcomes, minimise harm, and support antimicrobial stewardship.

2.6 Dentists must be given access to the relevant real time prescription monitoring system when prescribing any medications captured by the system.

2.7 Dentists should consider the risks of misuse and dependency issues when prescribing certain medications including opioids and anxiolytics.

2.8 Dental software should facilitate electronic prescribing.

2.9 The scope of practice and training of allied dental personnel does not and should not include prescribing or dispensing of medications.

2.10 There should be uniform medications and poisons legislation in Australia.

3. Background

3.1 Dentists have had independent prescribing privileges for many years.

3.2 Dentists may prescribe medications including analgesics, antibiotics and anxiolytics for the purpose of oral healthcare.

3.3 The National Prescribing Service (NPS) Prescribing Competencies Framework describes the competencies that are expected of prescribers to ensure medicines are used judiciously, appropriately, safely and effectively in the Australian healthcare system.

3.4 University programs for student dentists include appropriate biomedical sciences to support safe prescribing.

3.5 Governments regulate the prescribing of medications and the regulations in each state and territory and can vary significantly.

3.6 Medication safety is an important professional standard recognised and supported by legislation, guidelines and resources.

3.7 Inappropriate prescribing can lead to ineffective or unsafe treatment, prolong or exacerbate illness, distress or harm the patient, decrease the effectiveness of antimicrobial medications and be costly.

3.8 Inappropriate prescription of certain medications including opioids and anxiolytics may lead to misuse and dependency.

3.9 Real time prescription monitoring systems for monitored medicines are in place for each state and territory in Australia.

3.10 Electronic prescribing is a component of Australian Government eHealth initiatives.

3.11 The scope of practice and training of allied dental personnel does not include prescribing or dispensing of medications.

3.12 The principles and current recommendations about the use of medications in dentistry are published in Therapeutic Guidelines, Oral and Dental.¹

4. Definition

4.1 BOARD is the Dental Board of Australia.

4.2 DENTAL PRACTITIONER is a person registered by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency via the Board to provide dental care.

4.3 DENTIST is an appropriately qualified dental practitioner, registered by the Board to practise all areas of dentistry.

4.4 NATIONAL PRESCRIBING SERVICE refers to the National Prescribing Service that promotes the quality use of medicines through independent, evidence-based prescribing guidance, education and clinical resources for health professionals.

5. Last review

August 2026

6. Next review due

August 2031

¹ Oral and dental expert group. Therapeutic Guidelines: Oral and Dental