Oral manifestations of drug therapy.

Increasingly, patients with complicated medical problems are coming to dental offices for treatment. These patients report using a variety of medications to control one or more chronic conditions. Many of these medications produce changes in the mouth because of toxic overdoses, side effects, allergic reactions, or as a consequence of the primary action of the drug. These effects include: xerostomia, gingival hyperplasia, candidiasis, mucositis, stomatopyrosis, gingival bleeding, petechia, salivary gland problems, intrinsic stain, cheilitis, erythema multiforme, lichen planus, ulcerations, taste changes, tardive dyskinesias, and soft tissue pigmentation. This article discusses presentations and causes of oral changes secondary to systemic drug use.