Provision of Botox Solely for Cosmetic Purposes Outside the Scope of Dental Practice in California

California-licensed general dentists are not permitted to offer Botox and dermal filler injections to patients for purely cosmetic purposes. Only oral surgeons who hold an elective facial cosmetic surgery permit can provide these products for stand-alone cosmetic services.General dentists who offer Botox solely for the purpose of cosmetic enhancement are performing dentistry outside their scope of practice and should refrain from advertising Botox services in their practice and thereby misleading consumers about the availability of Botox for cosmetic purposes alone. The Dental Board of California clarified the allowable use of Botox in April 2019, at CDA’s request, and there is no movement in California to change the scope of cosmetic dentistry.The board has pursued enforcement actions against general dentists who perform cosmetic procedures solely for the cosmetic improvement of facial tissues rather than for cosmetic improvements related to dental treatment. Dentists should keep explicit, detailed documentation, including photographs, for procedures performed to improve dental treatment esthetics as they do for all other procedures for dental treatment.Read more at California Dental Association >>