Fitzgerald Jacob, Epstein Joel B, Donaldson Mark, Schwartz Gordon, Jones Cameron, Fung Karen
Catherine St, Ottawa ON K2P 2G8.
J Can Dent Assoc. 2015;81:f10.
Adverse effects of medication used in dental care are likely to increase as North Americans live longer, experience more and greater severity of chronic conditions and take more medications. Thus, documentation of medication use and the implications for contemporary dental practice is of increasing importance.
We recorded medication use in patients referred to a large private periodontal practice in Ottawa, Ontario. Patients self-reported medication use and medication allergies in their health history forms on admission.
Of 322 sequential patients enrolled, 164 were female and the overall median age was 52 (range 6-94 years). Participants reported taking 249 unique medications in 28 categories. Two-thirds of patients (63.7%) were taking prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications or both. The average number of medications per patient was 1.9 (range 0-14). The average number of OTC medications per patient was 0.5 for those not taking prescription medications and 0.4 for patients taking prescription medications concurrently. The number of OTC products per patient was 0-7.
Given the prevalence of the use of both prescription and OTC products, accurate recording of the medication profile is necessary in contemporary dental practice. Medication use and medication allergies provide information on patients' medical history and diagnoses that may have implications for their oral condition and delivery of dental care. Additional concerns include potential interactions between frequently used medications reported by patients and medications that are commonly used in dentistry.
The increase in the use of multiple medications and OTC products by the outpatient community has an impact on dental care and prescribed medications in dental care. Thus, it is important to have a complete and accurate medication history to ensure a high standard of care in dental practice.
随着北美人寿命延长、慢性病的发病率和严重程度增加以及用药种类增多，牙科护理中使用药物的不良反应可能会增加。因此，记录用药情况及其对当代牙科实践的影响变得越来越重要。
我们记录了安大略省渥太华一家大型私人牙周病诊所转诊患者的用药情况。患者在入院时通过健康史表格自我报告用药情况和药物过敏史。
在连续入组的322例患者中，164例为女性，总体中位年龄为52岁（范围6 - 94岁）。参与者报告服用了28类共249种不同药物。三分之二的患者（63.7%）正在服用处方药或非处方药（OTC），或两者兼服。每位患者的平均用药数量为1.9种（范围0 - 14种）。未服用处方药的患者平均每人服用0.5种OTC药物，同时服用处方药的患者平均每人服用0.4种OTC药物。每位患者的OTC产品数量为0 - 7种。
鉴于处方药和OTC产品的使用普遍，在当代牙科实践中准确记录用药情况很有必要。用药情况和药物过敏提供了有关患者病史和诊断的信息，这些信息可能会对其口腔状况和牙科护理产生影响。其他问题还包括患者报告的常用药物与牙科常用药物之间可能存在的相互作用。
门诊患者多种药物和OTC产品使用的增加对牙科护理及牙科护理中开具的药物产生影响。因此，拥有完整准确的用药史对于确保牙科实践中的高标准护理很重要。
