Initial Prompt
Understanding patient medical history is important because as a clinician, I want to provide the best care for my patient without causing them any problems. Medical history is vital when it comes to providing safe oral care due to potential interference with dental treatment. Prior to getting into the patient’s mouth, it is important to go over a medical history form to see what medical conditions they may have or previously had. Some medical conditions require patients to take medications that could interfere with dental procedures or impact post-operative care. Obtaining a list of medications, allergies, and medical alerts for a patient is essential when it comes to patient care. If a patient needs to be numbed with a local anesthetic, the hygienist needs to know and understand what medications the patient is taking. Some medications interfere with local anesthetics and could even cause danger to the patient if a dental procedure is done. It is important to go through the medical history to avoid any malpractice and to obtain a comfortable patient-to-hygienist environment.
Reflective Response
Understanding patient medical history is essential because clinicians must provide the best care for their patients. Medical history is vital when providing safe oral care due to potential interference with dental treatment. Some medical conditions require patients to take medications that could interfere with dental procedures or impact post-operative care. Obtaining a list of a patient’s medications, allergies, and medical alerts is essential for patient care. It is necessary to look up medications in Lexicomp because some medications interfere with dental procedures and local anesthetics. Sometimes, the clinician must decide whether or not it is safe to proceed with the appointment based on an individual’s health status. It is essential to be aware of any infectious diseases so that clinicians can better protect themselves and the environment around them. When obtaining the patient’s medical history, one of the most crucial pieces of information is whether they need premedication. This question is vital for patients with joint replacements, heart conditions, or at increased risk of infection. Reviewing the medical history to avoid malpractice and obtain a comfortable patient-to-hygienist environment is essential.
In the clinic, one of the first things I do is look over the patient’s medical history to decide how I will treat them. The patient I treated is a 77-year-old female who has ADHD, arthritis, herpes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, melanoma, MOH surgery, PTSD, and multiple skin cancer surgeries for the removal of skin cancer lesions. The patient takes aspirin, atorvastatin, potassium chloride, sertraline, and triamterene. The patient has an allergy to poison ivy. Before looking up the medications in Lexicomp, I would approach treatment as periodontal maintenance, no premedication needed, and fluoride varnish if the patient agrees. After looking up the medications in Lexicomp, the treatment is still periodontal maintenance, no premedication, and fluoride varnish. There is an increased risk of bleeding due to aspirin, muscle weakness due to atorvastatin, and xerostomia due to sertraline. During treatment, these side effects may cause an increase in bleeding, a tired jaw, and dry mouth, increasing the risk of caries.
In the case study, the patient is a 79-year-old female with a stroke four years ago, hysterectomy at 62, laser eye surgery, diabetes, GERD, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and osteoporosis. The patient takes aspirin, insulin, Prilosec, Mevacor, Tenormin, Altace, Plavix, Actonel, and HbA1C is 8.0-9.0%. Before looking up the medications, I would approach treatment as periodontal maintenance, no premedication, FMX due to lack of dental appointments in years, and fluoride varnish. The treatment is the same after looking up the medications. There is an increased risk of bleeding due to aspirin, xerostomia and abnormal taste due to Prilosec, muscle weakness due to Mevacor, the use of a local anesthetic with a vasoconstrictor can be used if needed with Tenormin, orthostatic hypotension and cough due to Altace, potential loss of taste due to Plavix, and ONJ due to Actonel. During treatment, these side effects may cause increased bleeding, a tired jaw, dry mouth, and risk of medical emergencies due to diabetes.
