Dental practice: the prescription

A prescription is a legal document; it is a written communication tool between a prescriber and a pharmacist, for preparing and dispensing a drug for a patient. Who may write prescriptions and how they should be written are outlined in the appropriate state and territory legislation (see Legislative Acts and Regulations relevant to prescriptions and prescribing).

To reduce the potential for error, the prescriber must provide a prescription that is legible, clear and unambiguous. Although computer-generated prescriptions can be easier to read than handwritten prescriptions, errors can still occur.

Essential information required for a legal prescription written by a dentist varies slightly between the states and territories, but generally comprises:

• prescriber’s name, address, telephone number and qualifications
• patient’s full name (given and family names), address, age and date of birth (for children, include the patient’s weight)
• date the prescription is written
• drug name in full (preferably generic or approved name)
• drug strength (eg 250 mg, 500 mg)
• drug form (eg tablet, capsule or mixture)
• quantity of drug to be supplied
• drug dose, route of administration, frequency and duration of treatment
• clear instructions for the patient (in English)—it is not appropriate to write ‘take as directed’
• any further instructions necessary for the pharmacist
• the words ‘for dental treatment only’
• handwritten signature of the prescriber.

Example of the format required for a legal prescription written by a dentist is an example of the format required for a legal prescription written by a dentist. If the prescription is for an item included in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), the dentist’s unique prescriber number must be on the prescription. PBS prescription pads are available from Medicare Australia. If the prescription is for a non-PBS item, a PBS prescription form may be used, but all references to the PBS must be crossed out and the form endorsed with the words ‘Private Prescription’.

Points to note when writing a prescription include:

• Aim to make the prescription tamper-proof (unalterable); use indelible ink.
• Use plain English.
• Do not use abbreviations or Latin terms, except for standard recommended abbreviations (eg mg for milligram, mL for millilitres)¹.
• Do not abbreviate microgram, nanogram, international or unit.
• Avoid using decimal points if possible (eg write quantities less than 1 gram as milligrams, and quantities less than 1 milligram as micrograms).
• If using a decimal point, put a ‘0’ in front of the point (eg ‘0.5’, not ‘.5’).
• Limit the number of items on a prescription to three (or one if prescribing a Schedule 8 drug).
• Use computer-generated prescriptions if possible.
• If space is unused on the prescription, put a line across the area to prevent the addition of items.
• Dentists may not order repeat prescriptions.