Dentists Prescribing Retin A

[Gothmog]

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Hi All,

Maybe a stupid question here, but I recently had a patient ask me if I could prescribe Retin A for acne scarring..just curious is this something we as dentists can do? It is topical and it is usually used on the face...I’ve personally also had it prescribed to help with acne scarring(by a dermatologist). FWIW I am a practicing dentist and I’m pretty strict about sticking with antibiotics and pain control prescriptions, but this patient’s request got me thinking. Thanks so much!

 

[Awisdomtooth]

What it says under one of the dental board websites ....

"Dentists may prescribe medications and controlled substances ONLY FOR DENTAL-RELATED conditions. Under no circumstances may a dentist prescribe anything whatsoever outside the course of his/her practice of dentistry (e.g., cold medicines, headache remedies, ulcer medications, etc.)"

 

[Captain Underplants]

What it says under one of the dental board websites ....

"Dentists may prescribe medications and controlled substances ONLY FOR DENTAL-RELATED conditions. Under no circumstances may a dentist prescribe anything whatsoever outside the course of his/her practice of dentistry (e.g., cold medicines, headache remedies, ulcer medications, etc.)"

I don’t know about that. As a hospital based OMFS resident we frequently prescribe other meds like folic acid, tamiflu, pneumococcal vaccine, and nicotine replacement therapy which really aren’t involved with dentistry exactly .

 

[endodonia]

Maybe a stupid question here, but I recently had a patient ask me if I could prescribe Retin A for acne scarring..just curious is this something we as dentists can do?

I'm sure you can prescribe whatever you want. An astute pharmacist may scratch their head at this and call you/ call the state dental board or their own pharmacy regulatory agency and inquire about this however. FWIW, i'd bet good $ it goes unnoticed and you never hear from anyone, ever. except for maybe your patient who will want a refill.

stick to abx and pain meds. my 0.02.

to the OMFS-> you guys/girls are a little different, I think we can all appreciate that. The average general dentist shouldn't try to push the envelope IMO or be prepared to answer tough questions if they come up.

 

[FutureDent020]

I’

Hi All,

Maybe a stupid question here, but I recently had a patient ask me if I could prescribe Retin A for acne scarring..just curious is this something we as dentists can do? It is topical and it is usually used on the face...I’ve personally also had it prescribed to help with acne scarring(by a dermatologist). FWIW I am a practicing dentist and I’m pretty strict about sticking with antibiotics and pain control prescriptions, but this patient’s request got me thinking. Thanks so much!

I’ve known dentists to prescribe cephalexin for infected lacerations in the facial region. However, pharmacies don’t care much about AB’s. With Retin A, if it’s a one time thing, not a big deal, but I wouldn’t make it a routine thing.

 

[OSOSOS]

Why would you want to???

 

[Molar Whisperer]

While I was in the USAF, I prescribed myself using a dinosaur computer the lowest strength Retin A because I had late blooming acne. I didn't think it would be possible but no one checked. The pharmacy was a 30 sec walk down the hall from the clinic so it was very convenient. Before I finished my commitment, I prescribed myself Kenalog for occasional skin rash/bites, Benadryl as sleep aid, ibuprofen, and Kenalog Orabase for canker sores. Too bad Viagra wasn't on the market yet.

 

[pubhealthdent]

Hi All,

Maybe a stupid question here, but I recently had a patient ask me if I could prescribe Retin A for acne scarring..just curious is this something we as dentists can do? It is topical and it is usually used on the face...I’ve personally also had it prescribed to help with acne scarring(by a dermatologist). FWIW I am a practicing dentist and I’m pretty strict about sticking with antibiotics and pain control prescriptions, but this patient’s request got me thinking. Thanks so much!

Can you? Yes. Should you? No. Outside the scope of practice IMO

 

[Molar Whisperer]

Can you? Yes. Should you? No. Outside the scope of practice IMO

Usually the pharmacists will refuse to fill anything outside your scope. Hopefully they don't report you to the Board.

 

[Holemm_ev]

Can Retin A for acne scarring help?

Sorry for bumping this thread. I am fighting with my acne for many years and I tried a lot of things but nothing worked. In my opinion, before taking any supplements we need to visit a doctor because he knows more than us. However, I have a small experience with vitamin D, so I can't talk much about it. Lately, I noticed that I have dry eyes and dry skin which is very unusual for me and I found out that I have Vitamin A deficiency. So, I started to take vitamins, wellabs vitamins has been my best friend for a while now.

 

[Molar Whisperer]

Can Retin A for acne scarring help?

Sorry for bumping this thread. I am fighting with my acne for many years and I tried a lot of things but nothing worked

It may help because it aids in exfoliation. I took a class on laser dentistry and the instructor used laser on a classmate's scar on her hand. It only penetrates 5 cells deep so multiple treatments are required. Of course dermatologists will have the latest and greatest.

 

[DrJeff]

Occasionallly you will get a pharmacist calling to check on an Rx typically out of your scope of practice.

For Example, there happens to be a OB/GYN, with the same first name, last name and middle initial as I have, who practices about 25 miles away from me. I have gotten a few calls from some pharmacists over the years, usually located about 1/2 between my office and his office, asking me if I really am prescribing birth control pills!

To which my reply is along the lines of "that was probably the guy with the M.D. doing that, definitely not me with the D.M.D.!"

In general, if you're Rx'ing antibiotics, pain meds, muscle relaxants, anti anxiety meds, and some anti depressants for TMJ therapy, chances are the only way that you'll get a call from the pharmacist is if unbeknownst to you, your patient is a pill seeker and the pharmacist is just letting you know.

I will say though that if you Rx your kid a tube of erythromycin opthalmic ointment for the 3rd or 4th time that they get a case of pink eye, that you're likely to not get a call from the pharmacist either! 😆

 

[Holemm_ev]

It may help because it aids in exfoliation. I took a class on laser dentistry and the instructor used laser on a classmate's scar on her hand. It only penetrates 5 cells deep so multiple treatments are required. Of course dermatologists will have the latest and greatest.

Occasionallly you will get a pharmacist calling to check on an Rx typically out of your scope of practice.

For Example, there happens to be a OB/GYN, with the same first name, last name and middle initial as I have, who practices about 25 miles away from me. I have gotten a few calls from some pharmacists over the years, usually located about 1/2 between my office and his office, asking me if I really am prescribing birth control pills!

To which my reply is along the lines of "that was probably the guy with the M.D. doing that, definitely not me with the D.M.D.!"

In general, if you're Rx'ing antibiotics, pain meds, muscle relaxants, anti anxiety meds, and some anti depressants for TMJ therapy, chances are the only way that you'll get a call from the pharmacist is if unbeknownst to you, your patient is a pill seeker and the pharmacist is just letting you know.

I will say though that if you Rx your kid a tube of erythromycin opthalmic ointment for the 3rd or 4th time that they get a case of pink eye, that you're likely to not get a call from the pharmacist either! 😆

Thanks for the help!

 

[TanMan]

Professionally, we should stay in our scope of practice since any type of board investigation invites scrutiny to your practice. Pharmacists are the gatekeepers to the meds and you don't really want to test your luck. If you really need to "score" meds, get a physician to diagnose and treat whatever it is you're trying to treat... or go to mexico/online pharmacies and get them. I see lots of snowbirds do that and there is a legal quantity that you're allowed to ship in the US or bring back. IANAL, please review your federal/state/local laws to see what you can legally import/bring back and in what quantities.

Unless you're prepared to manage the side effects of medications that you prescribe, it's better to stick with what we can easily justify in our field. Why would we want to chronically manage patients (i.e hypertension, diabetes, acne)? We don't get paid well for that and our time is better spent treating and maintaining the oral cavity.