Dentists should not direct patients to their GP requesting they prescribe sedating medications, such as diazepam. If a dentist wishes to prescribe sedating medications to manage anxiety as part of treating a dental condition, that dentist should be responsible for issuing the prescription.
Dentists are able to prescribe certain medications listed in the BNF dental practitioners formulary and this list includes diazepam tablets and oral solution.
Dentists do not have access to the electronic prescription service (EPS) and thus cannot sent prescriptions electronically to community pharmacies. If a dentist is treating a patient as part of their NHS dental practice, then the prescription should be on a FP10D (yellow) prescription form. If the dentist is treating a patient privately, they should issue a private prescription.
Dentists may contact a GP for information or advice, if, for example the patient has a complex medical history.