Why Dentists Should Know About What Doctors Prescribe for Their Patients

The elderly man's front tooth bore tooth decay, a large black hole, which shocked the dentist completely. He was taking nitroglycerine tablets which he placed under his upper lip instead of under his tongue. The medicines were to blame for this hole in his tooth. To read other dentistry articles make sure to visit sedation dentist.

According to oral medicine experts, medicines such as vitamin C tablets and blood pressure pills may have serious bearing on dental problems of Americans. The specialists also say that doctors either don't know that these medicines can damage the teeth or leave their patients ignorant of this fact.

We make dentists know how important it is to ask their patients about medical concerns and medications, says one dentist and pharmacologist at the University of Buffalo. Look carefully at them, think carefully about what they can do, he advises dentists.

These facts are presented by oral medicine specialists who handled classes at this week's ADA meeting. Gum swelling is a side effect of calcium channel blockers which can be seen in about 20% of the patients who take them. The inflammation opens pockets in the gums for bacteria to infiltrate, leading to massive swelling and serious gum disease. Many of these medicines are widely sold all over the country. Visit cosmetic dentist sydney to learn more about dentistry.

This kind of swelling can also be seen as effects of anti epilepsy drugs and amphetamines. Cyclosporin, used by organ transplant recipients to prevent organ rejection, can cause an even more massive gum overgrowth. Inflammation caused by leukemia is similar in appearance.

A lot of drugs are responsible for causing dry mouth, which is also caused by radiation treatment. Essential to a healthy, saliva keeps cavities and plaque from forming, so lack of saliva may be a serious dental problem. Because of the problems calcium channel blockers bring, the dentist would often resort to asking doctors for a switch in the patient's prescription.

If not, they need very strict plaque control and to see the dentist every two months, he said. Keep the mouth clean, and there will be no need to worry about gum side effects, another dentist advised. He stated that a mouth with no plaque is a mouth with no problem.

The Dilantin patient in a photograph he showed had swollen gums, more so that only the tips of the front teeth were visible. Those taking Dilantin should see a dentist within a 10 day span so that the condition could be minimized and bacterial infection could be avoided, he said. Prescription drugs are not the only things you should be concerned about. Lozenges, cough drops, and antacids contain a lot of sugar.

He recalls one woman who had new cavities inside her mouth every time. She said she brushed regularly and avoided sweets, leaving the dentists so perplexed. She later on admitted that she sucked on three packs of antacid a day.