[Cosmetic injectables in dental practice: legal aspects in the Netherlands].

Abstract

A recent survey indicates 49% of this journal's subscribers endorse the administration of cosmetic injectables by properly trained dentists. Given the surging demand for cosmetic treatments, it's essential to establish clear guidelines and conventions defining the roles of the various healthcare professionals in various situations. There is, however, considerable discussion still and from a legal standpoint, the role of dentists within cosmetic medicine remains ambiguous. Under the Dutch Individual Healthcare Professions Act (Wet BIG), dentists are authorized to administer cosmetic injectables exclusively for dental purposes. However, based on the content of current dental training, one might argue that dentists' authorization could be extended to include facial injectable treatments in the entire face, in future. Presently, it is prudent for general practice dentists to abstain from cosmetic procedures with cosmetic injectables without a specific (aesthetic) dental objective.