Drug Dilemmas: Medicines, Interactions and Adverse Effects (NW190207B)

The session will include commonly used medicines in dentistry and how to overcome the challenges faced by practitioners. Christine Randall is a pharmacist and lead for the National Dental Medicines Information Service.

Registration is from 9am-9.30am

Mandatory: Dental Hygienist, or Dental Therapist, or Dentist

Focusing on issues relevant to the dental team, to raise awareness of:

•  the laws that apply to medicines,
• drug interactions and polypharmacy
• oral adverse reactions to medicines and concerns around commonly taken and used medicines.

To manage medicines within the current legal framework: Medicines are highly regulated in the UK and knowing which aspects of the law are relevant to dental practice is essential.

 The session will cover:

•  The legal framework for medicines
•  Administration and supply of medicines for private and NHS patients
•  Controlled drugs in dental practice e.g. midazolam.

To minimise risk to patients by raising awareness of drug interactions when prescribing and administering medicines: All medicines have the potential to cause or be affected by drug interactions. Some of the drug interactions that are clinically relevant and impact most in dental practice will be discussed. Polypharmacy, the concurrent use of multiple medications, is an increasingly common especially in older patients introducing challenges to dentists when additional medicines are required.

To identify some important oral adverse drug reactions and report them appropriately to the Yellow Card Scheme. :All medicines cause adverse effects – not in all patients and not always severe. Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) that may be seen by the dental team are highlighted including osteonecrosis of the jaw associated with bisphosphonates. Reporting ADRs is an important professional responsibility for all members of the dental healthcare team and how this should be done via the MHRAs Yellow Card Scheme will be described.

To recognise areas of concern when treating patients on medicines or using medicines to treat patients.

Patients taking medicines can provide challenges for the dental team but sometimes appropriate use of commonly used medicines is also unclear, the following will be covered:

• corticosteroids
• lidocaine dosing
• analgesics

Delegates will be able to:

• Appreciate the laws, guidance and legal constraints associated with managing and administering medicines.
•  Understand the implications of polypharmacy
•  Recognise and assess risks to patients associated with drug interactions when administering medicines.
•  Identify oral adverse drug reactions, appreciate the value of the UK’s Yellow Card Scheme and to fulfil their   professional responsibility to contribute appropriately to it.
•  Recognise and manage common areas of concern when treating patients on medicines or using medicines to treat patients.