You and your periodontist are essential partners in making sure you have the best dental care. You do your part by eating a tooth-healthy diet, brushing and flossing as recommended, seeing your dentist regularly, and making an appointment with Doctors Bauer, Lawrenz, and Stark when your gums and supporting tooth structures need the care of a specialist.
And one more essential step you can take for your dental health? Let us know which prescriptions and over the counter medications you’re taking.
Medications Have Oral/Dental Side Effects
We’ve all grown used to hearing “Possible side effects include . . .” at the end of every pharmaceutical commercial. That’s because those unintended side effects can affect our health in any number of unexpected ways—and this includes gum health.
For example, a common side effect of many medications is xerostomia, or “dry mouth.” Saliva helps keep our teeth and gums healthy by washing away food particles and oral bacteria. A reduction in saliva production means more plaque and tartar can build up around the gums. Plaque and tartar buildup, in turn, is a common cause of gum disease.
Knowing a patient is taking one of the hundreds of medications which cause xerostomia allows Doctors Bauer, Lawrenz, and Stark to both monitor the condition and suggest the most effective treatment options to control any unpleasant symptoms.
Besides dry mouth, gum sores and gingival enlargement are other well-known side effects that can affect your periodontal health. Knowing which medications you’re taking can provide Doctors Bauer, Lawrenz, and Stark with essential information for the diagnosis and treatment of any medication’s side effects.
Medications Interact
Medication might be needed for your periodontal treatment. Because certain drugs, supplements, and even some vitamins and foods can affect the way our bodies metabolize, absorb, and respond to other medications, we need to know which medicines you’re taking to arrive at your best treatment options.
- There are different classes of antibiotics used to treat oral infections. Knowing your medical history enables Doctors Bauer, Lawrenz, and Stark to choose an antibiotic option which won’t interact with your other medications.
- Local anesthetics such as lidocaine, which numb the area to be treated, can also interact with certain medications. Doctors Bauer, Lawrenz, and Stark can prescribe an alternative local anesthetic or adjust the dosage as needed.
- If you will be using sedation during your procedure, you have several options, including nitrous oxide gas, oral sedation, or IV sedation. Be sure we know about all of your medications beforehand because of possible interactions. Changes can be made to the type of sedation and/or the dosage as needed.
Medications Impact Treatment
It’s important for Doctors Bauer, Lawrenz, and Stark to know if any of your medications will affect standard treatments.
Anticoagulants, for example, are a necessary medication for preventing blood clots from forming, and are often prescribed for certain heart conditions, after joint replacement surgery, or for anyone at risk for developing blood clots. Because these medications prevent the blood from clotting, it’s important to let us know if you are taking such drugs before periodontal surgery.
If needed, Doctors Bauer, Lawrenz, and Stark can work with you and your doctor to create a treatment plan that will be safe, effective, and designed to work with any of your medications. You should never discontinue taking your prescribed medications before dental work without medical approval, as this can be dangerous.
Your periodontist needs the most up to date information about your health to provide you with the best care possible. Knowing which medications you take and why you take them can help Doctors Bauer, Lawrenz, and Stark:
- Diagnose and treat any side effects from non-dental medications which have affected your oral health,
- Prevent drug interactions from occurring, and
- Tailor your treatment to your specific medical needs.
Your prescriptions, over the counter medications, and even herbal supplements and vitamins are essential information. It’s a good idea to make a list before your next appointment at our Champlin, MN office so you have specific medications and their dosages at hand. It’s one small—but vital—step you can take to work with Doctors Bauer, Lawrenz, and Stark for your best dental health!
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