|
Dental patients
should be open with their dentists about overall health
issues, especially their medical histories.
"Any
information patients give about their overall health,
lifestyles, therapies, medications or dietary
supplementation can only improve the likelihood of
successful dental diagnoses and treatment," said Dr.
Scott Navarro, dental director, Delta Dental.
Research shows
a number of connections between oral health and other
conditions including diabetes, cardiovascular
conditions, pregnancy and osteoporosis.
Knowing a
patient's medical history, a dentist can choose the most
appropriate treatment. Also, he or she can watch for
potential oral health problems that can result from a
physical illness or medication.
Dental patients
should update their dentists regularly about any medical
problems or changes in their health. They should
especially report any heart-related information, asthma,
allergies, orthopedic surgeries, chronic illnesses or
histories of serious illnesses, such as rheumatic fever.
All
prescription or over-the-counter medicine and
supplements should also be discussed. Many drugs can
cause dry mouth or have other oral side effects. Some
can also interfere with certain dental
treatments.
"Dentists have
been known to detect symptoms of disease that haven't
been diagnosed yet such as diabetes, osteoporosis,
cardiovascular disease and premature birth," said Dr.
Navarro. "Dentists and primary care doctors can work
together to help their patients stay healthy, but
communication from the patient is crucial." |
