Prescribing and Maintaining Drugs
{
Quick Tips for the Dental Office
}
State Board of Dentistry Regulations
Prescribing and Maintaining Drugs
• Drug storage areas must be clean and orderly .
• Drug storage areas must be dry , well ventilated and well lit .
• Must ensure adequate dust , humidity and temperature controls .
• Drug storage areas should contain only drugs and related supplies and equipment necessary for the administration and dispensing of drugs to the dentist ’ s own patients .
• Drugs should be adequately labeled and kept in the manufacturer ’ s original container showing the lot number and expiration date , until the drug is administered or dispensed .
• Drugs should be free from adulteration . Appropriate procedures must be in place to minimize the chances of cross contamination .
• Outdated or deteriorated drugs should be segregated in the storage area until their return to the manufacturer or appropriate disposal . Dentists must maintain records reflecting the final disposition of these drugs .
• Controlled substances must be stored in a substantially constructed , locked container . Dentists must be present to supervise whenever the locked container is opened to clean , replenish supplies or perform other necessary tasks .
• Dentists must provide for the safe , secure and sanitary disposal of drug-containing refuse .
• Dentists must be cognizant and compliant with other state and federal laws regarding the storage of drugs .
Pennsylvania Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
In an effort to empower health care professionals to identify patients struggling with addiction as soon as possible , the state launched the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program ( PDMP ) in August 2016 . All schedule II – V prescriptions dispensed to outpatients are collected by the PA PDMP within 72 hours of having been filled . By using the PA PDMP system , dentists and other providers will play a key role in reducing opioid abuse and overdoses .
Prescribers may query the system for each patient when the patient is prescribed a controlled substance for the first time . Providers may also search the system if they have reason to believe that a patient may be abusing or diverting drugs . To make consistent use of the PA PDMP system more practicable , prescribers can grant access to any delegates under their employment or supervision to query the system on their behalf . Log on to www . health . pa . gov for more information .
2024