When first attending a new dental surgery, patients will be asked a series of questions regarding their health including things such as allergies, previous dental history, previous and current medical history including conditions and medications, smoking status and even dietary information.
All allergies are important to disclose as there may be products that are used in a patient’s mouth that contain surprising ingredients or agents that a patient may react to; this includes food, medication, preservatives, dyes, metals, minerals and compounds.
While some questions may seem trivial they play an important role in the dental experience. There are some conditions and surgeries for which a patient may be required to take antibiotic covers before any treatment these may include some heart conditions, joint replacements and prosthetics or as advised by a GP or specialist.
Oral disease can be affected by the state of one’s oral health and vice versa, poor oral hygiene has been linked as a contributing factor for conditions such as heart disease and Alzheimer’s and therefore may require some thorough attention. Alternatively, conditions and lifestyle choices such as diabetes, systemic disorders, radiation therapy, diet, alcohol intake and smoking status can affect the teeth, gums and tissues of the mouth and may explain some changes that are observed over subsequent appointments.
Medications play a significant role in the treatment of oral disease, there are a high number of medications that cause xerostomia (dry mouth) which can have a significant impact on some patients. Certain medications such as those to treat osteoporosis (such as Prolia) and blood thinners (such as Warfarin) may require treatment such as extractions to be delayed to lower the risk of bone necrosis or excessive bleeding.
All medical information is confidential and kept on record for the purposes of dental treatment.
Menu
