The prescription of psychotropic medication and the knowledge of brazilian regulatory legislation by dental surgeons

Abstract Background The use of psychotropics by dental surgeons is permitted by law in Brazil for specific clinical cases. There are few studies on its use in dentistry. Objective This study investigated the prescription of psychotropics drugs by dentists enrolled in the Regional Council of Minas Gerais and their knowledge about regulatory ordinance 344/1998. Method An electronic questionnaire with 13 questions addressing the prescription of psychotropic drugs was sent to 15250 dental surgeons and 969 questionnaires were answered. It was considered the time of graduation, type of undergraduate institution, type of postgraduate course, more frequent prescribed medication, knowledge about ordinance 344/1998 and more frequent public that receives the prescription. Results Two hundred and fifty-seven professionals prescribe psychotropic drugs and 223 know the law, and a worrying percentage of professionals who prescribe these drugs does not know the content of the Ordinance 344/1998. Opioid analgesics are the most prescribed psychotropic medications. Specialists are the ones who prescribe psychotropic drugs (p=0.015) and those professionals who prescribe anxiolytics know the legislation more frequently (p=0.003). The maxillofacial surgeons (p=0.02) and experts in disorders of the temporomandibular jaw joint (0.03) are the ones who know the law and prescribe psychotropic medication. Strong pain and fear are the two main reasons for prescribing psychotropic drugs. Conclusion Being a specialist and knowing the ordinance 344/1998 are factors associated with the prescription of psychotropic medications among dentists.