In the U.S. do dentists (D.D.S. or D.M.D.) have the same power to prescribe medication as physicians?

Question

By physician I mean a typical M.D. or D.O.

Answer 1

I'm a dentist.

Legally, we have the authority to write prescriptions for every type of medication out there, just like physicians.

And like physicians, our prescriptions must be related to our clinical practice.

A lot of people think that dentists prescribe only "pain meds and antibiotics". That is utter nonsense. Despite the fact that pain meds and antiobics are the medications me most frequently prescribe, we nonetheless prescribe sedatives, muscle-relaxants, sleep aids (such as Ambien), topical and systemic steroids, and other types of medications. We are also able to use Botox (although general dentists, by state licenses, are often limited to using Botox for non-cosmetic purposes).

For example, if there is a patient who has hypertension and is normally on Diovan-HCT but "ran out" of pills and has an appointment in my office for a procedure where his blood pressure is a clinically significant issue, I am of the opinion that I can write him a couple day's worth of the medication....because it is necessary for me to render treatment for him. Obviously, I should not prescribe for him a month's supply of the drug, because then it appears as though I am managing his hypertension--which is most-decidedly outside of my clinical practice. Similarly, I prescribe albuterol inhalers for my asthmatic patients from time to time who do not have them because asthma attacks are a risk during dental procedures. But if I prescribed for a patient a year's supply of Advair (a maintenance medication), that would be considered managing asthma.

Similarly, an ER physician prescribing, for example, Ritalin might be investigated. Treating ADD is outside of the clinical practice of an ER physician. A neurosurgeon prescribing Accutane for acne would also be prescribing outside of his clinical practice and in theory could get in trouble for it (although, as a dentist, I can and do prescribe Retin-A once every blue moon...as facial acne certainly fits within the new ADA definition of dentistry).

So legally, our prescriptive rights and responsibilities are identical to those of physicians.

In practice, though, it's a bit different. Because we hold the title of D.D.S. (or D.M.D.) rather than M.D. or D.O., our specialty is readily put on display for the person filling the prescription. Most pharmacists, when they see "M.D." or "D.O." on a prescription pad, don't look further. After all, MD's and DO's are physicians, so even an ER physician prescribing Ritalin certainly has more right to do so than a dentist would....even though legally, we are both permitted to prescribe the drug.

Your question touches on a subject that as far as I know has not been addressed definitively.

But basically, a dentist can prescribe any medication he needs in order to carry out his work.

If some day we discover that Ritalin miraculously prevents peridontal disease, you can be sure that dentists will prescribe it.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Yes. They can. But the DEA would get mighty suspicious if a dentist started prescribing blood pressure medications or depression medications and would start investigating them immediately. They can prescribe pain meds and antibiotics.....but not in excess. They watch EVERYONE prescribing narcotics these days because there is so much abuse.

Answer 4

It depends on what they are prescribing there will be a limitation ie. painkillers, antibiotics for example. A dentist isn't going to be prescribing birth control pills for a toothache.

Answer 5

DDSs or DMDs have the same prescription writing license as MDs, however, a dentist is expected to be writing prescriptions for his area of expertise, only. Many dentists loose their license every year for abuse of prescription drugs. For instance it would be natural for a dentist to write prescriptions for pain killers, since patients have many types of oral pain that require this type of medicine, however, it is really very easy for a pharmacist to identify a dentist who is writing more than the "normal" amount of such prescriptions.

Answer 6

if you specialize in something, you have made up your mind that this is what you will be doing therefore even though an orthodontist at some point was just like a general dentist, he or she has made the choice to practice a certain type of dentistry therefore they have become skillful in that area.

Answer 7

Dentists are able to prescribe medications such as pain or antibiotics. Good question.

Answer 8

depends on the state

Answer 9

yes, but just dental related perscriptions