Ensuring Medication Safety in the Dental Setting
By Sandra Stramoski, RDH, MSDH, Anna Matthews, RDH, MS and Christopher W. Bowers, DMD, MS
A comprehensive medical and pharmacological history precedes any oral assessment and is an integral part of safe and effective dental treatment. It is common practice to have patients record medications and medical conditions, and for clinicians to review for red flags before providing dental assessments and services. However, the complexities of medical conditions, possible drug interactions, medication adherence, and implications for dental treatment suggest a more in-depth dialogue is required. Discrepancies in the dental record with regard to medications are not uncommon,1 and patients may not always provide a complete and accurate list of drugs, including over-the-counter (OTC) medications and herbal supplements.2
* References can be found in the original article via the link below.
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