Cannabinoid medicine is becoming a possibility among dental professionals
According to ordinance no. 344/1998, which approves the technical regulation on substances and medicines subject to special control, dentists are already recognized as prescribers of cannabis for medicinal purposes.
In Anvisa´s RDC no. 660, which defines import as a means of acquiring cannabis-based products, it includes a prescription by dentists for granting import authorization. According to data from the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), there are more than 600 products sold through this RDC.
New regulations for the prescription of cannabis by dentists
Another access route that is expanding is RDC no. 327/2019, which does not yet allow prescriptions by dentists. However, this reality may change soon with the planned review of this RDC, as explained by criminal lawyer Marcela Sanches.
According to Marcela, representatives of the Federal Council of Dentistry (CFO) have already expressed their support for including dentists in RDC 327/2019. The CFO is committed to providing scientific evidence on the use of cannabis in dentistry, in addition to developing a plan to guide dentists on the use of this therapy.
With this, the lawyer believes that, in addition to prescribing imported cannabis products through RDC 660/2022, dentists will also be able to prescribe products sold in Brazilian pharmacies and drugstores in the future under the new regulation that will replace RDC 327/2019. The review is on Anvisa´s Regulatory Agenda and should be carried out this year.
Efficacy of cannabis in dental treatments
Dentist Cynthia de Carlo highlights that due to the therapeutic properties of cannabis, with few side effects, the demand for cannabinoid therapy has grown significantly in dental offices.
A recent literature review conducted by Brazilian researchers showed promising results for the use of cannabis in the treatment of orofacial pain, one of the most common conditions in dental interventions. In addition, the use of cannabis has shown promising results in the treatment of bruxism, temporomandibular dysfunction, burning mouth syndrome and periodontitis.
The importance of training for dentists
During the 3rd Brazilian Congress of Medicinal Cannabis, in the Odonto Cannabis module, Sidney Neves, 2nd vice president of the São Paulo Association of Dental Surgeons (APCD), highlighted important aspects of treatment that are currently not widely explored in dentistry. He emphasized the psychological and emotional factors, in addition to post-operative management of patients.
According to Neves, it is essential for dentists to understand important details of the diagnosis, such as the appropriate dosage, time of use and which product is most indicated, especially for patients with complex problems in the mouth and face.
For dentists who want to learn more about cannabinoid therapy and meet the demands of their patients, the 4th Brazilian Congress on Medicinal Cannabis, which will take place from May 22 to 24 at Expo Center Norte in São Paulo, is an opportunity to acquire this knowledge. With a 36% discount on advance registrations, the event is considered the main forum for discussion on medicinal cannabis in Latin America.
Cynthia de Carlo, a speaker at the Cannabis Dentistry Module in 2024, emphasizes that cannabis can be used as an anxiolytic and anticonvulsant in dental treatments, as indicated by the dentist. "Professionals have complete autonomy to prescribe medicinal cannabis for various pathologies, supported by several international and national studies that prove its effectiveness", highlights the specialist.
Source: https://sechat.com.br/noticia/dentistas-avancam-na-prescricao-de-cannabis-medicinal-novas-regulamentacoes-a-vista
Dentists advance in prescribing medicinal cannabis
