Smoking – is it worth it?

In 2018, 14.7% of the UK population smoked – in 2019, it dropped to 14.1%.¹ Although fewer people are now smoking compared to previous years, smoking is still a significant healthcare concern.

Smoking can trigger many health issues, both internally and externally. It can increase the risk of erectile dysfunction,² bronchitis³ and poor mental health.⁴ Research⁵ has also shown that those who smoke have less collagen and elastin fibres. This can cause skin to become loose and dry. Those with concerns for their skin may consider cosmetic treatment, and options such as fillers or botulinum toxin injections can help to give patients (and their skin) a new lease of life.

Some dental professionals may not have considered offering cosmetic treatments to their patients, and yet doing so would enable their patients to be able to undergo these procedures in a safe, clean environment. Dental professionals also understand the orofacial features, as well as how to administer injections. So, providing cosmetic treatment within a dental practice is a sensible consideration.

The GDC states that dentists can provide non-surgical cosmetic injectables as an extra skillset.⁶ Dentists are more than competent to deliver safe cosmetic treatment to patients. Not only this, but dentists could offer advice and guidance for patients still undecided on non-surgical cosmetic treatment.

Keep patients safe and satisfied

Some visual signs of smoking can include wrinkles and an altered skin complexion. These side effects can contribute to feelings of embarrassment or low self-esteem, and people may turn to cosmetic treatments to combat these issues.

Botulinum toxin injections help to smooth out the lines around the mouth caused by the ‘puckering’ when smoking, and the procedure has been proven to be safe for use in the reduction of facial wrinkles.⁷

Unregulated professionals put patients at a severe risk⁸ and include those who have undergone an uncredited training course. There is a lack of regulation on training and qualifications, so this is a common issue. Cosmetic work performed by a healthcare professional always has a higher chance of a successful outcome.

Effective waste disposal

Dentists looking to implement non-surgical cosmetic treatments within their practice must consider the correct disposal systems. Materials used for botulinum toxin injections are classified as cytostatic waste (purple waste on the Department of Health’s colour coded guide to best practice waste disposal). Therefore, they must be discarded accordingly.

Initial Medical is dedicated to the effective and safe disposal of cosmetic waste. We provide a range of solutions for the separation, storage and disposal of all waste streams. Our expert team of healthcare waste consultants and technicians are always on-hand to help.